Ring by Spring?
Illustration by Noelle Mitcham
Article by Jayden Forsyth
NEWBERG, Ore – During Welcome Weekend at George Fox University (GFU), speeches, events and community fairs make new students feel at home. Months later, students still remember comments from these events, such as: “You could be sitting next to your future spouse!” or “You’ll get your ring by spring here, don’t worry.”
Though these are just likely humorous or throwaway remarks, ring by spring culture prevails at GFU, whether intentional or not; because many colleges, particularly smaller Christian schools, serve as prime meeting and marriage places for their students, the weight of ring by spring culture hangs in the air.
Student interviews suggest that while ring by spring may be part of campus culture, it is not something the university itself promotes.
“I think the culture is prevalent here but I don’t know if it's due to George Fox specifically or the administration,” said Sophomore Emaleigh Pierce. “I don’t actually think George Fox [pushes ring by spring culture]. I think people do.”
Another student, Sophomore Elijah Argubright, agrees. “If [GFU] wanted ring by spring culture, they would have married housing,” he said. “I think some of the culture does promote romance but I don’t think it promotes engagement and commitment in that sense.”
Even if the school itself does not promote the culture, Pierce notes that students who come in with this notion may be subject to rushing into relationships and the relationship process.
“[Ring by spring mentality] launches people into hot and heavy relationships super early,” said Pierce. “It’s like, what’s her middle name? What’s his favorite color? Questions we asked in kindergarten, do you even know those answers?”
Argubright himself recently became engaged to his fiance, Sophomore Abi Severns. However, Argubright advises couples to: “Date for at least a year, bare minimum.”
While Argubright’s path to engagement isn’t part of this phenomena, his general advice on dating applies to those trying to get a ring by spring, and those who are not.
“There’s always going to be hard things in our relationship. It’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows,” said Argubright. “Even from the start, there were hard things and there still are.”
Argubright added that his experience has been totally worth it. “But sometimes, I think ‘Abi is the best person ever.’ And the amount of times that she’s the best person ever far outweighs any possible downside of her. There’s no one I’d rather be with. There has never been anyone that I’ve wanted to be so close to.”
Argubright also noted the status quo for courtship and marriage. “There’s a taboo about marriage where you’ve really got to date them for a long time to figure out who they are, which is partially true. I do not avoid hard conversations, which has made it easier to get through things because I’ve gotten to know her pretty well.”
While ring by spring culture is prominent on campus, it does not seem to be encouraged by administration. It isn’t discouraged either but the throwaway remarks from Welcome Weekend still live in students’ heads semesters afterwards.
