Image by Marg, courtesy of Creative Commons
Zoraida Pastor/Contributing Writer
Does love last? The Feb. 4 Tuesday Times Roundtable hopes to answer this question in time for Valentine’s Day.
The discussion is based on a New York Times article “New Love: A Short Shelf Life,” by Sonja Lyubomirsky who based her research on 1,761 newlyweds who were tracked over the course of 15 years.
Findings showed that the newlyweds experience greater joy during the first two years, and that over time that happiness wanes.
The happiness only peaks again during what is called an “empty nest” phase when the kids are gone and couples are left to rediscover themselves.
The discussion will be moderated by Diann Newman, assistant dean of Student Services at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, who says the articles are a reflection of her own interests.
“I like to pick articles that have a little edge to them, things that people don’t typically talk about,” Newman said.
Newman said she advocates open communication at the University.
“I feel that the roundtable discussion is a wonderful vehicle for the university community to get together to discuss interesting issues.”
She said she wants to “take the temperature of the audience” in this Roundtable discussion.
“I thought what an important thing for people who are in college before they are in committed relationships and marriage… to get some clarity on what their expectations are,” Newman said.
Eric Feldman, global learning coordinator who is in charge of all the behind-the-scenes planning for the Roundtable discussions, called Newman a “veteran moderator.” She has been moderating discussions for three years.
Feldman said the roundtable is “class but better.”
“You have a different person every week and a different topic,” he said. Each discussion is based on a different article from the New York Times.
It is not a debate, according to Feldman; it is a forum where students and participants can be heard.
“The goal is to hear all perspectives on what other people think and why,” Feldman said.
The Tuesday Times Roundtables began in 2009 as a response to low readership to the New York Times.
“The Student Government Association was the sole funding agent for the New York Times readership program,” said Stephanie Doscher, associate director at the office of global learning.
“SGA was concerned that the newspapers weren’t being put to good use. We thought it would be a great opportunity to partner with students to help everybody at the university to take advantage of these resources that are afforded to us.”
The roundtable discussions are held every week at Modesto Maidique Campus and every other week at Biscayne Bay Campus. The upcoming discussion will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Wolfe University Center room 159.
-bbc@fiusm.com
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