Dating rules at BYU are as diversified as the students. Everyone has their own guidelines for the dating game.

Dave Berrey, 22, a sophomore from Pocatello, Idaho, majoring in psychology just came up with a new dating rule for himself.

"When I meet somebody new, we don't have to be friends first, I just have to be attracted to them and have the guts to start talking to them," Berrey said.

Berrey recently decided to talk to girls he thought were attractive, because the worst that could happen is that he would never see them again.

In a computer lab Berrey sat down across from a girl he thought was worth getting to know, so he spent 20 minutes figuring out how to approach her. He finally passed her a note introducing himself to her.

After a few minutes of passing the note back and forth, Berrey said he ended up with her name and phone number.

Angie Phillips, 21, a junior from Tahlequah, Okla., majoring in audiology and speech language pathology, said her rule is to tell someone if you do not want to date them.

"If you just tell them how you feel then nobody gets hurt and you don't have to waste time," Phillips said.

Phillips feels this way because she has gone out on dates with guys she did not like. She felt like it was not a good idea because the other person can tell that you are not having a good time.

Phillips also said she thinks it is weird how some people thing a person should always go on a first date if asked.

"If you know a person already, that's enough to know if you want to date them or not," Phillips said.

Phillips said it is best not to waste time, money and emotional energy on a relationship that is not going anywhere.

Mike Santiago, 22, a junior from Laguna Niguel, Calif., majoring in English said he has only one rule when dating.

"I have a list of questions that my mom answered," Santiago said. "If she answers them right I'll go out with her again."

Santiago said it is something he always does, because he wants to find a girl like his mom.

"My mom is my best friend," Santiago said.

Every girl that has passed Santiago's test has become a really good friend before they start dating.

"Its good because the relationship is based on friendship and not attraction," Santiago said.

Copyright Brigham Young University 28 Feb 2002