More college students say 'I do'

As time and people change, so do attitudes toward different aspects of life. For instance, when did tattoos become trash instead of art, when did people become so concerned with a stranger's sexual orientation, and when was a politically correct timeline placed on marriage?

More and more students are getting engaged and even married during their college years, raising a fuss from some people, but why? Senior Jeric Griffin recently married in December 2010.

"I don't agree with the ‘you're too young to get married' argument," Griffin said. "I see it as a generational issue. I think some people who make that argument married young themselves and are no longer happy, so they put it off on other people."

Sophomore Alyssa Shepherd is currently engaged and plans to be married this summer.

"I feel like marriage in general is quite underrated," Shepherd said. "Society does not regard it as a serious matter. People get divorced as if it is no big deal, and I think it should be recognized as a very serious commitment."

Both Griffin and Shepherd have set their sights on marriage, but freshman Dakota Crockett has a slightly different outlook.

"Getting married while in college is not something that I would want to do because people change [the most] throughout their college career," Crockett said. "I would not want to marry someone who turns out to be a completely different person by the time graduation arrives."

According to Griffin, marriage is not for everyone and requires responsibility, planning and, of course, money.

"Before I proposed to my wife, I had a very detailed plan that I discussed with both of our families," Griffin said. "I outlined everything we would need to live, as well as a plan for our schooling, scholarships, jobs and budget. I would not have taken on the responsibility of marriage had I not been ready."

Shepherd also thinks that marriage should not be taken lightly.

"Getting married young is not for everyone," Shepherd said. "Most college students want to party and have fun, or put off marriage until their careers have progressed, but I think if you find the right person and you are ready, then why wait?"

Crockett, on the other hand, favors waiting for marriage.

"I completely agree with the ‘too young to get married' stigma because time has shown that many couples who marry young do not fully grasp what they are getting themselves into," he said.

However, time has also shown that with the necessary qualities, young marriages can work.

"In my opinion, you are too young to get married if you are unaware of the commitment you are making, if you are entirely dependent on your parents or if you cannot handle the responsibility of a new marriage on top of everything else," Griffin said. "For marriage to work at any age, the couple should have every detail so planned out that when the wedding finally happens, the transition from one life to another can be made smoothly."

So, some think marriage has soiled people's hearts, some believe it is not as sacred as it should be, and some believe it should not be rushed into, but the ever-present question still remains, "How young is too young?"