As writers in this department, we may harp on the downside of love, but deep inside we really are rooting for romance. While we usually stick to well-researched advice, this time we decided to experience the perils of love firsthand: It was time for a blind date. Our initial attempt to pass out questionnaires on campus failed because of a lack compatibility and low response. We resorted to setting up friends of friends of friends to find our potential couple. In return we found a male and female willing to spend a few hours being observed on a Saturday night Old Chicago dinner date. Here are the details.

6 p.m.

Tyler Young, Abilene, senior, arrives early to the restaurant. Although he doesn’t expect any relationship from the date, it was important for him to be on time. Hannah Owens, Downers Grove, Ill., junior, arrives shortly after and the two nervously shake hands. They wait a minute for a table, saying nothing.

The hostess seats them in a booth with Tyler facing our direction. They begin with small talk about their majors. Quietly looking at the menus, they discuss sharing a pizza. Hannah requests mushrooms and Tyler offers a two-topping solution: pepperoni and mushrooms. He asks how much she can eat and they end up getting a medium. Hannah orders a Diet Pepsi and Tyler gets water. While the pair wait for their food, they sit rigidly in their booth with their hands close to their bodies.

After they order the waitress takes our order and we inform her of the blind date. She is relieved and says, “That explains it. When I got their order they were like, ‘Oh. Do you? Umm. Oh. Food. Split. What? Umm. Food. Where? What? Agree?’”

6:08 p.m.

The waitress brings their salads and Tyler discusses going to grad school after a little time off. As much as we tried to stay out of the date, Tyler seemed to notice us observing him. Conversation continues with talk of jobs, internships, professors and hometowns and the two start to loosen up, using more hand gestures. Tyler’s smile become less awkward and forced. “Do you come to Old Chicago often?” Tyler asks. “Occasionally,” Hannah answers. “But did you notice everything that is not Chicago about it? The deep dish is not really deep dish.”

6:19 p.m.

Silence for a minute as they observe a prom group leaving.

6:24 p.m.

The pizza arrives. The conversation switches to music and Hannah says she saw Iron and Wine in concert last week. At this point, Hannah is doing most of the talking.

6:30 p.m.

Tyler looks intrigued and interested in the conversation while eating the pizza. We think he finally stopped noticing us and both are smiling. Hannah says she is in marching band and Tyler says his sister used to do that. They discuss how the directors can get the band to practice three times a week. The topic quickly switches to all the airports in Kansas the two have visited.

6:39 p.m.

Silence for a few minutes, interrupted by Tyler coughing and then apologizing.

6:43 p.m.

The waitress boxes up the pizza and we tell them they have to order dessert. They agree with a simultaneous “yes!” Hannah decides on a cookie and Tyler gets cheesecake.

6:58 p.m.

Dessert arrives.

7:10 p.m.

“Isn’t it ironic that the Anarchists are so organized?” Tyler asks. They both laugh. “Ya know, KU is probably one of the few campuses with its own anarchy group,” Hannah says.

7:28 p.m.

Dessert is finished and they end with last-minute small talk.

7:34 p.m.

The date ends and they shake hands again, this time less awkwardly.

Reactions

Hannah thought Tyler was reserved at first, but later he seemed like a cool guy. Tyler says he thought she was nice. They both agree they are at different places in their lives: Tyler just coming off an internship and Hannah in her junior year. They discovered they knew a lot of the same people. Hannah says her most awkward moment was in the beginning because she was frazzled and inarticulate. Tyler says the awkwardness came with dessert when Hannah stopped talking. They both agree that the best part of the date was their conversation about politics. In the end, the two say they will probably not go out again. And though we’re disappointed, we hope our attempt at a love connection might at least spark a friendship.