I don’t know why columnists always avoid clich‚s in their columns, especially college columnists.

Norms? Me? I don’t think so.

That’s right, I’m going to talk about Facebook and relationships. All in less than 600 words.

This past weekend, between spring break ending and April Fools’ Day, Facebook got more action than an underage partier in Tijuana.

First there was the clich‚ album after endless album of photos that pretty much told the world that A) you went home and really didn’t do anything over spring break or B) you paid a lot of money, traveled somewhere “exotic” and still really didn’t do anything over spring break. (Let me be bitter, I was stuck at home myself.)

Then you had the clich‚ wall posts. “Hope your break rocked. Missed you bunches!!!”

And, for the piŠce de r‚sistance, you had the clich‚ breakups.

(Don’t even tell me college students aren’t clich‚.)

Lord, were there breakups.

Relationships that have lasted for years came tumbling down like the Dow last month. Fledgling affairs got a swift jolt to reality. Kissy facing stopped. When the News Feed speaks, you know it means business.

So I’ve come to two conclusions.

One, Facebook is the second religion of all college students. Come on, whom else do you bare your soul to other than a god? Stalker-feed or not, if Facebook came crashing down, a good portion of campus probably wouldn’t be able to go out for a few days.

Two, spring break is like holidays and birthdays for relationships.

Instead of trusting your other to impress the ‘rents or remember your special day, you trust him or her to spend a week alone and without you. Some relationships can handle time apart.

Others — well, it’s just not pretty.

This column is really for those of you who woke up early one afternoon last week to find one or more naked others in the room with you, not sure of where your clothes were or why exactly you weren’t wearing them. This column is for your boyfriend or girlfriend who called you every night as you two planned before departing for your well-deserved break from the dredge of the semester and for the phone calls you didn’t answer because you turned your cell phone off Friday and didn’t turn it back on until Sunday night.

This column is for everyone who, at one point or another, wondered what their others were doing when they were tipsy and making out with a random cutie. And, of course, this column is for everyone who’s other met you under the influence of both drugs and alcohol after a week of being apart. (Long story. Don’t ask.)

We’re all about ultimate tests, convictions and accountability.

Spring break brings challenges to fidelity. The week after brings challenges of cheating and deceit, convictions of invalid intentions and mistaken attachment. Once upon a time, these matters were private, limited to the confines of one’s circle of friends.ÿ

Lest we all forget, spring break is spring break. Make of it what you will, but since I’ve already lauded a laundry list of clich‚s, here’s one more: Leave it behind you.

Yes, what happens on spring break needs to stay on spring break.

Because when I get two to three breakups in a row on my News Feed more than once in a 24-hour period, there’s not much hope for the integrity of our generation.ÿ

And you know, half those couples are already back together.

Now how clich‚ can you get?

Adam Griffiths is a freshman magazine journalism major and a columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].