Cupid’s hits and misses

Friday, February 14, 1997

School romance intensifies with marriage proposal for alumniBy
Carol McKay

Daily Bruin Contributor

hey tell the story differently, but who pushed who into the
Hedrick 2 North typing room that night nine years ago isn’t
important. What does matter is that Cheryl Brown and Jeff Patterson
have been together ever since, and last night he took her back to
the place of their first kiss and proposed.

"The first thing Cheryl said when we got there was, ‘This is
much smaller than I remember it being,’" said Patterson, who
graduated from UCLA with a degree in economic systems science in
1990.

"And then I just cried the whole time," said Brown, also a UCLA
alumna with a degree in economics and an emphasis in computing.

Patterson, who had been planning the special day for the last
two weeks, said he "couldn’t wait any longer." He had wanted to
propose on Valentine’s Day, but with over 30 friends and family
members involved, scheduling conflicts wouldn’t allow it.

"So many people knew about it," Brown said. According to Brown,
she figured out what was going on around 12:30 p.m., after having
received two "random" phone calls from friends attempting to
convince Brown to accept the proposal she had yet to receive.

"It’s really hard to bring up what a great guy Jeff is," said
Stacy Galer, who met Brown while on the spirit squad at UCLA her
sophomore year. Brown was captain of the spirit squad in
1990-91.

Patterson had called friends, parents and siblings to prepare
them for their roles in the proposal last week.

"My mom called and just went on and on about how wonderful Jeff
is. I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection," Brown said.

At work Thursday, Brown received numerous gifts, calls and hints
about the coming evening in 15-minute increments.

One such surprise was a special interactive software program
from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast that Patterson, a children’s
software programmer, had created.

"It was the scene where the Beast proposes to Belle," Brown
said. "(My co-workers) wanted to watch it over and over."

Guests at a reception in the Hedrick 2 North study lounge
following the proposal included Brown’s parents and brother,
Patterson’s mother, sister and brother, and numerous friends of the
couple.

Students walking through the second floor study lounge last
night were caught off-guard by the celebration, some offering
congratulations and others offering to take leftover cake off the
hands of the newly engaged couple.

In the lobby of Hedrick, according to guests, several residents
made a big deal that elevators, rather than the stairs, were being
used to get to the second floor, a serious residential hall faux
pas.

"I think it’s cool," said Kristin Herdman, the second floor
Resident Assistant. Herdman, a third-year psychobiology student,
handled Patterson’s call when he contacted Hedrick staff to gain
permission for use of the lounge.

According to Patterson, a lot of work went into the event.

"I had done some contract work on the side that she didn’t know
about to pay for the ring," he said.

The ring, which impressed guests at three carats, proved to be a
dilemma for Patterson.

"There’s a story behind that ring," he said. "I had to spend
more than I had planned."

Patterson said he described the problem ­ that the ring was
too large ­ to several female friends, seeking advice.

"They all said it’s not a problem," said Patterson, dressed in a
tuxedo coat with tails and blue jeans.

The only problem Brown had Thursday night was getting inside
Hedrick Hall, something that had caused her nervous boyfriend some
concern.

"The first thing I asked myself was, ‘Is she going to know how
to get there?’" he said.

After proposing, Patterson and Brown walked into the study
lounge, where they found friends rushing to finish putting up
decorations.

Small obstacles like that, however, did not prevent the night
from going as planned.

"She said yes," a smiling Patterson said. Now he can breathe
again.

GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin

Jeff Patterson (l.), and Cheryl Brown celebrate after Patterson
proposed in the Hedrick 2 North typing room, where they first
met.