As I survey the grounds of this university, I see what appears to be a major male to female ratio dilemma.

In the two years I’ve been here, I have noticed more and more there is a large number of single women at Eastern. At the Food Court, in the Rec Center and even at the bars it always seems as if women outnumber men by a landslide.

The ratio in my classes is even more astounding.

Everyone can relate to that anticipation of starting a new semester and walking into a classroom for the first time, hoping to look around the room and find your soul mate among the Abercrombie T-shirts and greek letters.

Nothing is more disappointing to me than walking into a classroom full of women. No dating potential there.

So, where have all the cowboys gone?

Statistics prove there are men on this campus. Recent enrollment figures show that of the 11,163 students at Eastern, 4,630 are men.

Although there are nearly 2,000 more women than men on campus, conceivably, it should not be that hard to find a date.

Sadly, I have female friends in their 20s who have never even been out on a date. For straight, single, sexually-frustrated women, this campus lacks options.

Maybe the problem with guys is not just quantity, but quality as well.

When I go out with my girls, I never get approached by members of the opposite sex, unless they’re my friends. I can’t recall a strange male ever opening up a door, offering to buy me a drink or making an effort to engage me in stimulating conversation.

I’m beginning to think chivalry really is dead and buried.

The trouble is not just from a female perspective, either. I’ve heard many straight, single, sexually-frustrated men claim they have a better chance of picking up a semi-truck than an eligible bachelorette at this school, even though they admit campus is crawling with “hot chicks.”

I realize a student’s evaluation of his or her college experience should not be based on how many notches are left on the old bedpost, but I never expected college to be like this.

College is where people meet and fall in love so they can get married and enjoy the quintessential yuppie lifestyle. At least, this is what I thought.

I had these romantic notions of meeting my Prince Charming here. Perhaps he would be sitting under a tree in the South Quad, and we would one day magically meet amidst the smell of freshly-laid asphalt and the blare of a dozen jackhammers.

My soul mate would be the type of man who would read me Shakespeare in bed and write me endless love letters. We would share intimate dinners at El Rancherito…it would be the perfect Charleston love affair.

And then I woke up.

I’m tired of dreaming about meeting someone at this school, and I can’t understand why it’s so difficult.

Universities are intended to be diverse places full of interesting people of both sexes.

Every person on this campus should be granted at least one date during their college years.

Caitlin Prendergast is the Activities editor and monthly columnist

for The Daily Eastern News. Prendergast also is a senior

journalism major.

Reach her at: 581-2812 or [email protected]