Because He First Loved Initiative Brings New Events and a Great Valentine’s Day Message

Charleston Southern University is launching Because He First Loved, a new campuswide initiative focused on fostering healthy relationships, just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

The Christ-centered program is partnering with students to help them navigate romantic, platonic, and professional relationships. The week kicks off with a keynote address on Tuesday, Feb. 10, featuring Tosha Connors, CEO of local organization My Sister’s House, which serves survivors of domestic violence. The event is coordinated with the Women in Business student organization. Students are encouraged to wear purple to show their support for the program.

Planning for this Valentine’s Day week started last fall between the Title IX Office, Student Life, Counseling Services, and Campus Ministries. First John 4:19 served as the blueprint: We love because he first loved us. “We wanted to pair spiritual reflection with tangible tools for relational health and safety on campus,” said Title IX Coordinator Summer Cora. “Hopefully it means fostering more inclusive feelings across campus as a whole so that students can better navigate all their relationships.”

Throughout the week, students can find tables for candygrams with educational materials and a raffle with the winner announced during Elevate on Feb. 12. 

Then on Friday, a brand new Sweet 16 Event, Vals and Pals, will debut. “When we understand love as something first modeled by Christ, it reshapes how we treat one another,” said Cora. She encourages students to communicate in ways that show respect and clear boundaries throughout the week and beyond.

Vals and Pals is a time to celebrate friendship, love, and everything in between with sweets, treats, and fun activities. The first 100 students will receive an exclusive Vals and Pals t-shirt. Admission is just five OCC donations. Be sure to register on Buc Nation!

Funding for the initiative was generously provided by the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses, a chartered institute through Lander University.