Office of Student Life (OSL) screens The Bachelor on campus

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“You’re honest, kind, everything I’ve ever wanted and something that everyone else falls short of … and I couldn’t be more sure that I love you.” These were the heartfelt words that Raven Gates shared with Nick Viall minutes before the lumbersexual heartthrob and star of ABC’s “The Bachelor” sent her home so that he could propose to the reality show’s eventual winner, Vanessa Grimaldi.

Dozens of Occidental students eschewed their busy midterm schedules to watch the grand finale, along with 8.4 million other viewers, of the show’s 21st season at 8 p.m., March 13 in Swan Hall. The screening, put on by the Office of Student Life (OSL) and co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha Theta, featured snacks, a photo booth and a $60 dinner date for the viewer who could present the best pick-up line to the audience.

Office of Student Life (OSL) Program Assistant Rick Pfleeger, devised the idea for the event on an OSL retreat at the beginning of the school year.

“We discussed events and just started brainstorming. It’s just a show I’ve been watching for a year now and so thought we could have a large audience. I thought it could be a successful event,” Pfleeger said.

Despite being an avid fan, Pfleeger conceded that the show’s bombastic representation of romance appeared to be one of its main selling points.

“I feel like people watch this show ironically, especially Occidental students, I think it’s just the ridiculousness of this and how people supposedly fall in love,” Pfleeger said.

Feverous fanatics and uninitiated observers alike gathered to watch Viall’s fourth attempt to find his soulmate in front of a nationally televised audience. Though split on who to root for, most viewers seemed to agree on the show’s ridiculousness.

“I know the show is s***, but it’s so funny,” Naomi Schiller (first year) said.

Theta’s Chief Panhellenic Officer Althea Dillon (junior) echoed Pfleeger’s comments regarding the frivolous content of the show, but also stressed the value of creating events hosted by multiple on-campus organizations.

“It’s like sports for people who don’t watch sports … It’s really fun for people to get together and watch it but I do worry about the shallowness of it,” Dillion said. “It’s a very public and open event, it seemed like a large variety of people attended. I’m glad that Rick reached out to Theta and I’m glad that people came. I like putting on events that foster a greater Occidental community.”

Pfleeger was pleased with both the event’s attendance and reception. Although this season of “The Bachelor” has drawn to a close, Pfleeger hopes to carry the momentum of the screening into OSL’s next event: Corgi Beach Day.

“We’re definitely doing more events,” Pfleeger said. “We’re doing Corgi Beach Day. We’ll be bringing a number of Oxy students to the beach and there will be tons of corgies running around.”

The event, hosted by So-Cal Corgi Nation, is set to take place at 10 a.m., April 8 at Huntington Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, Calif.

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