'The Dating Doctor' to speak on campus

By Hannah Kintner, Staff Writer kintner13@up.edu

Ever wonder why a great catch like yourself can't seem to get a date? Perhaps you've found that special someone, only to realize that he or she is a terrible kisser. Stop your fretting, because the dating doctor is here to help! On Friday Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. in Buckley Center Auditorium, Campus Program Board is bringing national award-winning speaker and author David Coleman to campus to give students some dating tips.

"They will find out how to tell if someone is worth dating in five minutes or less, the five signs that men give up their interest in a woman, five signs that women give up their interest in a man, the three types of love, what to do if you're dating a bad kisser, and that's not even one-third of the show," Coleman said.

Coleman is one of a kind as his daily work also includes giving personal dating consultations, just like Will Smith's character in the movie "Hitch." To date, he has had 350 clients. Not only will Coleman give students an upbeat, informative, and humorous show, he will also provide some audience members personal dating consultations.

"My visit will be anything but a lecture," Coleman said, as last year he became the first speaker to ever be named "Entertainer of the Year" by Campus Activities Magazine.

Coleman explained that he naturally fell into the business of entertaining and date coaching.

"When I was probably the age of most of the people who will attend my show, I could meet women effortlessly and my friends could not, so when we went out they knew that I could break the ice," Coleman said. "They knew that if I was anywhere near by they'd be meeting people, because I was meeting people."

Noticing his gift, Coleman's friends would come to him for direction whether their dates were going really well or very poorly. His advice seemed to work, so at the age of 24, he decided to turn his talent into a career.

While Coleman is unmarried, he bases his dating advice off of personal experience and lessons he has learned from his clients.

"I've dated some wonderful people, and I've dated some not so wonderful people, so I've learned from those," Coleman said. " [Now] I'm dating an amazing woman and there's a good chance that I'll marry her." 

Since the start of his career, Coleman has written three books, and has been featured in publications such as Glamour, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Students may purchase his books or a DVD of his talk at the event. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project which is a non-profit that supports injured military service members while they transition back to civilian life.

Coleman has spoken with and coached people on both sides of military relationships and has learned a lot about the dynamics of such relationships.

"I would highly encourage active or veteran military personnel or anyone dating one to come to my show. It's a very very military friendly show," Coleman said.

Student reactions to Coleman's upcoming visit range from excitement to doubtful disbelief.

Junior Meagan Usselman was not so easily convinced that Coleman's visit will influence students, since people get dating information all the time and rarely change make changes.

"I think it's interesting, but I don't think it will help at all," Usselman said.

Senior Mathew Hill, however, is proud that the University is bringing in someone to speak about issues relevant to student life.

"We're all young adults and sort of moving into the lifestyle of dating and being excited about maybe finding a potential life-long mate, and to bring someone in to address [dating] is very wise," Hill said.

Sophomore Kelsey Rouse is also excited to hear what Coleman has to say.

"I think it's really going to be really beneficial, especially if it's like about managing a relationship and school," Rouse said. "I'm most interested to hear what he has to say about long distance relationships, probably because I'm in one."

Beyond dating advice, Coleman has philosophies regarding relationship dynamics and marriage.

"I don't think you should marry a guy until he's 24, 25 [or] 26," Coleman said. "The reason being is men measure themselves based on what they do and how well they do it. Until he knows what he's good at, he won't know who he is."

Coleman explained that a man may believe he knows who he is early in life, but if he is fired from his first job or he does not like the profession he chose for himself, he may become very unhappy and a very different person.

"Women mature faster than men, and then we catch up... and then we pass you," Coleman said jokingly.

While Hill agrees with Coleman's assessment of men, he has a different philosophy of marriage.

"My rebuttal would be that with every single day of your life probably changes you as a person in one aspect or another," Hill said. "I don't think the point of marriage is being the same person for the next 50 years I think it's learning how to change with your partner to experience a happy marriage."

Though the show on Friday will last an hour and a half, Coleman attests that it will seem more like 30 minutes.

"It's very fast, very fun, and it changes people's lives," Coleman said. "If anyone's in a great relationship I'll help them make it better, if they're in an unhealthy one I'll help them get out, and if they haven't had a date since Moby Dick was a guppy I will help them find love."

David Coleman- "The Dating Doctor"

Job Title: Professional Speaker, Entertainer and Dating Coach

Education: B.S. in Speech Pathology and M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in Ohio

Author of: Making Relationships Matter, 101 Great Dates and Date Smart!

Awards and Accomplishments: Speaker of the Year for college campuses 13 times, 2011 Entertainer of the Year for Campus Activities Magazine

Relationship status: "Dating an amazing woman"