The other evening, the sisters of Columbia's Sigma Delta Tau sorority gathered to hear a speaker who could figure very prominently in their futures: matchmaker Janis Spindel, of Janis Spindel Serious Matchmaking and 365 Proven Ways to Find Love in Less Than a Year. Why, did the lovely ladies need some help learning how to attract the fine male specimens of Columbia University? Yes, it turns out!

Jennifer Smokler, BC '08 and the event's organizer, said, "I was just so sick of girls saying that Columbia guys suck, that they're ridiculous. There are men outside of Columbia. I think at this event there will be tips on how to find those guys." Smokler knew Spindel through her daughter-the two were roommates at Syracuse University before Smokler transferred to Barnard.

She also had some interesting advice about dating black people.

As Spindel sat answering the sorority sisters' questions, her rapt listeners sat on the floor, gripping note-cards with questions and copies of her book.

Spindel didn't hold back. In response to a question about dating outside of one's religion, she replied by way of example, "Jewish men will date shiksas. They won't marry them. You don't want to set yourself up for something you're not going to finish." The same went for interracial dating. "You're in New York. Find someone from your own tribe."

Also, don't live with boys before you marry them, because of that whole cow-buying-free-milk you're-a-whore thing.

Make Me A Match [Columbia Spectator]