College Relationships: What Do You Consider Cheating?

Many people have been in a situation where they were in a seemingly perfect relationship and, all of a sudden, their significant other cheats. In a college setting, this may seem more common. The combination of dorm-room parties, alcohol, and an attraction to fellow classmates can certainly lead to what
fear most in a relationship – cheating. 

Cheating, as defined on dictionary.com, is “to violate rules or regulations” or “to be sexually unfaithful.” There are no set rules and regulations in terms of being in a relationship, so what is right and what is wrong in a relationship is of high controversy.

 
“Cheating is having sex with someone else,” said Donald Serviss, sophomore at Farmingdale Community College. “I don’t think you can emotionally cheat. Honestly, everyone flirts.”
 
On the contrary, James Prasad, junior at New York Institute of Techonology, believes that cheating is strictly emotional.
 
“I don’t think having sex with someone else is cheating,” said Prasad. “When there’s no emotional attachment, that’s not cheating. I think that having feelings for someone else while you’re in a relationship is cheating.”
 
According to an article on Associated Content, The World’s Largest Source of Community-Created Content, “Cheating in college is a bit different than in adult relationships because the students are still maturing, and are trying to figure out what they really want in life.”
 
So, is cheating, whether it’s emotional or physical, ever really okay?
 
“I have never cheated and cheating is never okay,” According to Tatiana Perisa, senior at Hofstra University, “If you are unhappy in a relationship, the best thing to do is leave.”
 
Perisa believes that, although either way someone’s heart will be broken, cheating is much more humiliating and painful rather than being dumped. She also believes that at Hofstra University, cheating is common.
 
“I think that cheating is common at Hofstra,” said Perisa. “I’ve heard stories from others that their friends hooked up with a girl or boy while having a boyfriend or girlfriend back home.”
 
At other colleges, it is no different.
 
“Cheating is more common in a college setting,” said Serviss. “There’s more of a desire to, because there’s more girls.”
 
According to an article on authorsden.com, “Cheating in college is a bit different than in adult relationships because the students are still maturing, and are trying to figure out what they really want in life.”
 
“I think people cheat because they want to see if there is something better out there,” said Corey Abrams, senior at Hofstra University.
 
It is merely common sense. People cheat for a number of reasons. Either they are not happy in their current relationship, they want to try something (or someone) new, or they simply do not have what it take to stay committed.
 
Chad Goldsmith, junior at Hofstra University, also thinks that cheating is common at Hofstra. He also believes that cheating is wrong and that there are no exceptions for doing it.
 
“They don’t care enough about the people they’re with,” commented Goldsmith when asked about why people cheat.
 
Staying or leaving in a relationship is up to the individual. Cheating is very common in the college setting, but relationships are all about taking risks.