Jennifer Prasse, a senior in radio-television from Noblesville, Ind., said that while women think Valentine’s Day is a time for love and romance, men look at the holiday as a day where they have to buy a gift.

I think men don’t expect too much, she said. But I think women can get too picky.

Burgundy Brown, a freshman in communications from Maywood, said women think Valentine’s Day is special whether or not they are with someone.

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Women still buy gifts for friends even if they don’t have a significant other, Brown said. Guys think it’s special only if they’re involved in a relationship; then they’ll buy a gift.

Jennifer Kearney-Davis, a senior in special and elementary education from Champaign, said Valentine’s Day is a last-minute holiday for men.

They always pick up a gift at the last minute, she said. I think women plan ahead and think this holiday is about flowers and candy.

Some men agree that women take Valentine’s Day more seriously than men.

Mical Davis, a senior in computer science from Mahomet, said men should remind themselves in advance by putting a note on the TV set the night before.

It was not an easy holiday to remember before I was married, Davis said. Now that I’m married, I remember. Women imagine the punishments they’ll give to the men if they don’t remember.

Jake Webb, a junior in accounting from Evansville, Ind., said women look forward to Valentine’s Day too much, and men blow it off, unless they are locked in a relationship, forcing them to buy a gift.

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Jane Childers, card buyer for University Bookstore, said Valentine’s Day is the biggest holiday of the season for cards in the bookstore.

Any last-minute card shoppers will be disappointed when they try to find the perfect card because we’re really picked over, Childers said.

She also said the last-minute shoppers are definitely men.

They don’t care if they have to buy whatever is left over, she said. Women buy more Valentine’s cards, and it’s not just for their other half. Many of them buy cards for their friends.

Norma Wolfe, manager of The Bakery in the SIUC Student Center, said women outnumber men when it comes to buying Valentine’s cookies and cupcakes.

Many women plan ahead by buying goodies to take home before Valentine’s Day has even arrived, Wolfe said.

Valentine’s Day is also a day to be kinky, a lingerie store employee said.

JoAnna Armstrong, a fitter at Victoria’s Secret in University Mall, said men walk into the store with a look of panic in their eyes because they typically wait until the last minute to buy a gift.

She said many men think lingerie is a safe gift to buy because women think it is a romantic gift, but some forget their honey’s size.

Many men don’t understand why it’s difficult to find the perfect gift when they tell me I’m the same height as their girlfriend. Armstrong said.