A big part of the college experience is freedom. This freedom obviously translates into hooking up. But what exactly does hooking up at Tufts entail? Read on to see what some Tuftonians said:
How would you describe the Tufts hookup culture?
Sophie: It’s pretty much impossible to get to know someone in a romantic sense or date someone without hooking up with them first.
Sheila: I would say that there definitely is a hookup culture here, but it, like anything else, is what you make of it. I know many people who hook up with different people all the time, but I also know people who don’t. I don’t think you are really judged either way.
When you go out on the weekends, do you expect to hookup with someone?
Bethany: I don’t expect to hookup with someone when I go out. I would say that the option for a one-night stand is always available—i.e. at most frat parties—if you seek it out. But I don’t desire to do this, so I don’t expect it to happen.
Peter: If I go out on a weekend with the expectation of hooking up with someone, I probably will hook up with someone.
How do you feel when you go out and don’t hookup with someone?
Bethany: I don’t feel negatively if I don’t hookup with someone for one night. But if it’s a few weeks without a guy, I can start to feel like I’m not a ‘normal’ college kid.
Sheila: I honestly have never gone out wanting to hook up with someone and not found someone to hook up with. So if I’ve wanted to hook up with someone, it has happened.
Peter: I feel great—it means I get the whole bed to myself.
[pagebreak]
Do you feel any pressure by the Tufts hookup culture? If yes, how so?
Ross: A little. It is no secret that having the ability to hook up with girls is a trait most guys want.
Sophie: I do feel pressure by the Tufts hookup culture because I feel like if you go back with someone to their room, it’s unacceptable to just make out with them because guys generally expect more. And if you don’t [do more], I expect they will say bad things about you to their friends.
William: I’ve never felt pressured by the Tufts hookup culture.
What are you looking for when you hookup with someone/Are you looking for anything when you hookup with someone?
Ross: If the girl seeks me out another night or gives me her number then maybe I can see it as a friends with benefits thing, but I always go into it assuming it’s a one-time thing.
Bethany: Sometimes I am interested in the personality of someone and am searching for a relationship, but sometimes I am looking for a no-strings-attached hookup. That being said, it is a hell of a lot easier to find the latter!
Photos Courtesy of: http://i2.cdn.turner.com, http://i.dailymail.co.uk, and http://www.memetics.com/.