By Sean Leviashvili

Traditions are meant to be passed from generation to generation, but some traditions in relationships that were previously norms are contended or forgotten in today’s society.

Jarrad Glennon, 27, played it “old school” when he asked his girlfriend’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage over dinner, he told The Boston Globe. According to an Oct. 9 article entitled “Asking for her hand-after asking permission,” the tradition once considered essential in preparing for matrimony is possibly making a comeback.

According to The Globe , historians trace this custom back to the mid-19th century, when many marriages were arranged on grounds other than love. Today, asking permission to propose is conducted to show respect, above all else. People also feel it is a matter of respect to not ask permission, because it shows respect for the woman as an individual.

While this practice is not common or necessary by today’s standards, some students said it is a nice gesture that can be carried out as a form of respect.

“I think it’s a really cute idea, but they better be talking to the girl first,” said Shannon Barrow, a middler biology major.

Giving perspective from another generation, Chuck Fountain, an associate journalism professor, said he agreed the ultimate decision lies with the woman, not her father.

“On the surface, it smacks a lot of doing, [suggesting] somehow that the daughter is the property of the father, which is ludicrous,” he said.

Fountain said the tradition was archaic even during the late ’60s and early ’70s, when he was a college student.

Still, the tradition holds a romantic essence for some students, as do other customs of relationships.

“I feel like [asking a father for permission to marry his daughter] is the right way to go about it,” said Erica McNally, a sophomore business major. “I’m an old school type of person, I have traditional values