A quick skim over Dickinson College’s community standards reveals little to nothing about the “rules” surrounding public displays of affection, or PDA. This seems sensible at first. College ushers in all kinds of independence high school didn’t offer, and students should be mature enough to behave well in a public setting. However, the behavior of some students on campus makes some raise their eyebrows and wonder if their peers are allowed to get away with it. Many high school movies inexplicably feature couples who are all over one another in the hallways and that the main character has to physically dodge, but it’s an entirely different experience when you’re being subjected to it in person. 

I am not trying to say that all PDA is bad and all couples on campus need to adopt the Covid-19-era six-foot gap between them at all times. I’m saying that there’s a time and place for it. It’s about respecting the comfort of others around you and setting boundaries with yourself and your partner. It makes everyone uncomfortable when you’re getting overly comfortable with your partner in a public space. Taking a moment to consider your behavior from the perspective of onlookers can make things better for everyone. No one is going to bat an eye at you holding hands, but you may end up on YikYak or as? the subject of people’s daily conversations if you have a reputation of being the couple who’s handsy in the library. 

At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with loving someone else and showing off your partner. Hell, the world could use a little more love in it. However, displays of affection are something you need to be aware can be a source of discomfort for others if taken too far.