College campuses across the nation are swarmed with a rampant infestation. Worse than rodents and more deplorable than roaches, the most common pest to plague any college campus is the cheater. Not the "I'll sell you my test from last semester" cheater, oh no he's okay in my book. But the "I promise to be faithful to you while I'm abroad for a month" cheater.
If you aren't one yourself, chances are someone you are close with is. They adhere to a repulsively unethical set of moral standards. With the divorce rates at monumental highs in comparison to past years, I fear that a savage species of disloyal humans are multiplying. The once strong voice of morality that I thought was internalized by the majority seems to be muted in many people of the college-age demographic.
Technological advancements in communication and large arenas are opening up for cheaters to do their despicable work. Infidelity can now come in many forms whether it is texting, iChatting, or the numerous ways Facebook facilitates the destruction of relationships. College-aged students are at a very critical time in their identity development and should be aware that experiences with romantic relationships quite often have a lasting impact in adult life.
Is it that once a cheater always a cheater? I'm notably bitter, but not willing to resign my belief in repentance just quite yet.
Being a better person and learning from past mistakes is admirable and holds a significant amount of respect in my opinion and the opposite is true. Those who cheat then realize that they've hurt someone and still cheat not only show signs of early sociopathology, but more importantly aren't worthy of forgiveness.
In times of weakness I admittedly find dark solace in the fact that those who choose to live a life of promiscuity and disloyalty put themselves at greater risk of catching a plethora of infections and diseases - a kick in the crotch from karma herself if you will.
Although condoms are useful, HPV, a disease that can cause cancer and infertility in women is a virus that can be transferred even when using a condom, and infects 75 percent of sexually active people. So cheaters beware, that one night stand in Salamanca may just follow you for the rest of your life.
Cheaters are dirty and put the innocent people that they lie to at a substantial risk. Relationships don't seem to be worth it anymore. A guy or girl with traditional views has no place on a college campus flooded by those who drown their values in 30 racks.
It seems that the only way to avoid all of this unnecessary heartache is to stay clear of college relationships entirely. Even if you do choose to be single and not cheat, you can never really be sure that you aren't with someone else who has a dirty little secret. Is it too much to ask loyalty and respect from one another?
From an evolutionary perspective, it seems that those who cheat are merely acting out some ill-fated genetic disposition. In that light, it would make sense to mate with as many people as possible. After all, sexual monogamy is one of the rarest behavioral traits in all animals. Maybe those like me who expect different are fighting and loosing in an evolutionary battle.
I'm reasonable, and don't believe that once you become official with someone that all attraction to others comes to a halt. You can't help who you are attracted to. Being in a relationship doesn't mean seeing the world through some non-sexual lens, but rather making an internal choice to be a part of someone else's life in a unique way.
When you cheat, you make an internal choice to violate that promise in spite of its obvious emotional consequences. When the dust settles, it's indisputable that cheating is always wrong and those who make decisions to do so owe it to themselves to do some significant soul searching. Hurting others in pursuit of personal pleasure is selfish and shows weakness of character.
Although I find little room in my heart for sympathy for those who cheat, I've seen first hand the trust issues that develop ironically enough in the cheaters themselves. The moral dissonance that comes with cheating creates a suspicion that everyone you meet is just as untrustworthy as you are - so you cheat more thus perpetuating an ugly habit.
Face it. When we're all old, all the Botox and Viagra in the world won't ignite our ancient libidos and what's really going to matter is how you used your time on this earth. So when the sky's open up and you find yourself face to face with your maker, you want to be able to say that you spent your life loving others and didn't waste it being an untrustworthy coward.
Tina Ortiz is a Collegian columnist. She can be reached at kortiz@student.umass.edu.
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