Cuffing season is the phenomenon in which many young people tend to get into relationships during autumn and winter seasons for the holidays. When spring enters, cuffing season ends and as do many young relationships. Through its impact, Bluffton students have been noticing more relationships ending in the spring semester than in the fall.
Genoa Arling inside Ropp Hall. Photo by Aspyn Rafac.
In an informal Instagram survey done by the Bluffton Witmarsum page, 33% of the students said they had noticed more heartbreak in the spring semester.
“I think I’ve noticed a lot more breakups in the spring, at least with students,” said Genoa Arling, a junior social work and psychology major. “Particularly freshmen, who get into relationships right away during the fall semester, and then later realize after winter break that these relationships aren’t going to work out.”
Anton Miller in Bob’s Place. Photo by Aspyn Rafac.
According to Arling, part of the issue is that people don’t want to be alone during the holidays. Once college students go on extended breaks, they start to realize how hard the separation can be on their relationships.
Anton Miller, a sophomore history education major, says there is a great deal of pressure to keep friendships and relationships together in general.
“A lot of people expect that the friendships and relationships that they make in the beginning of the year are going to stay together forever,” said Miller. “But after coming back from a break these expectations can change. It’s just unrealistic.”
Ending on a positive note, Arling stated that she doesn’t think that these endings are always a bad thing. Sometimes with the right perspective, these things can be merely “spring cleaning” or “the start of something new.”
