Lifestyle

New App Crossed Helps College Students Forge Real Connections Beyond the Screen

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2024

Gen Z is breaking up with dating apps, and for good reason. Many of these platforms just grab your eyeballs and hold on to them until you feel drained, rather than help you do what you logged on to do — find new friends, professional contacts, and exciting people to date. That’s why more and more college students are declining to join them.

However, technology doesn’t necessarily have to be a problem — at least, not if it’s approached correctly.

Due to one new app’s uncanny ability to help college students grow their social circles in real life, it’s fast becoming the most popular new social networking platform on campus. Called Crossed, the app bridges the online and real worlds, taking advantage of technology’s strengths while shedding its weaknesses.

By leveraging sophisticated geolocation technology in a whole new way, Crossed introduces people who have literally crossed each others’ paths. As a result, they can make new friends and connections without even trying.

Crossed can be used to find friends, professional contacts, and dates

While Crossed can be used as a dating app, that’s only part of what it offers. Users can choose to participate in any or all of its three modes: Dating, Friendship, and Business, which is dedicated to professional networking.

Each mode is entirely distinct from the others, which means users’ profiles are never shared with anyone who isn’t interested in the same kind of connection as themselves. Gone are the days of disappointing other people because you reached out to them on a dating app as a possible friend or business contact, not a romantic interest.

College students have been finding numerous ways to use all three modes. The Business mode helps them meet other students in their courses and find study partners, while the Friendship mode connects them to other students who want to do fun activities or hang out together, and the Dating mode helps them find prospects to talk to and possibly ignite a relationship with.

Crossed does all this without any annoying swiping.

Crossed introduces you to those whose paths you’ve just crossed

Crossed’s innovative approach doesn’t require you to make snap judgments about hundreds of people based on their profile pictures. Instead, it uses cutting-edge geolocation technology to serve as your ultimate best friend, paying close attention to what you like to do and where you tend to go. Then, it scans the environment, searching for other members of the Crossed community who have similar habits. It only alerts you to the existence of other users whose paths have literally crossed your own.

“Say you love sailing or rowing,” says Conor Crighton, co-founder and COO of Crossed. “Crossed can introduce you to other people who go to the boathouse. If you like to study in the art history library, then it can introduce you to other students who do the same thing. Maybe you’re a big coffee connoisseur — Crossed can introduce you to other people who hang out at the same coffee shop.”

“If you went to a party but didn’t have the nerve to talk to someone, Crossed can come to your rescue, pointing out that you were both in the same place the night before,” says Manny Manzel, co-founder and CEO of Crossed. “That’s a much easier way to start a conversation. Plus, you won’t have to scream at each other over loud music.”

While other social networking apps require lots of time and effort, Crossed works in the background while you do other things. “The app multitasks on your behalf,” Manzel explains. “It constantly works to find new contacts for you so that you don’t have to. It also introduces you to people so you don’t have to walk up to them for no apparent reason and go through the awkwardness of introducing yourself cold.”

Crossed also takes security seriously. All communication on the platform is encrypted to the highest standards, and its “Safe Mode” feature allows users to choose which potential matches can view their profiles. Additionally, once Crossed’s “Safe Mode” is activated, you will not appear to other users around you unless you are both at a safe distance apart to further protect your personal safety and avoid unwanted matches.

Fill your college experience with fun

No one should spend their precious college years holed up in their dorm room, staring at a screen and feeling lonely. With Crossed, no one needs to anymore.

Crossed helps college students get out of their dorm rooms, make friends, and find those special people who are interested in the same things as themselves. In this way, Crossed puts technology in service of the real world, rather than vice versa.

Meet the people who will be your college friends for the rest of your life. Meet your future roommates and business partners. Meet the love of your life. Join Crossed today!

Lifestyle

Donnette Russell-Love on How Policy Changes Are Reshaping the Immigrant Experience in America

Published

4 days ago

January 16, 2026

Michelle Langton

What happens when the rules for chasing the American dream keep changing? For millions of immigrants, the answer is anxiety, confusion, and a constant fight to stay one step ahead of shifting policies that can decide their future overnight.

This is the reality that Donnette Russell-Love, attorney and CEO of Immigration Care Service, faces every day. With a career built on both courtroom experience and compassionate advocacy, she has become a steady guide for individuals and families navigating one of the most unpredictable legal systems in the world.

A Changing Landscape

Over the years, U.S. immigration policy has shifted from being opportunity-driven to increasingly restrictive. Donnette Russell-Love has seen how these changes have reshaped not only the process but also how immigrants are perceived. She believes that leadership plays a major role in setting the tone; each administration influences whether the focus lies on inclusion, enforcement, or deterrence.

Under the current administration, the path to the American dream has become much narrower. There has been a stronger push to limit humanitarian provisions for people fleeing unstable conditions, less tolerance for long-term immigrants with even minor offenses from years ago, and growing efforts to challenge birthright citizenship.

These policies reflect a clear shift in how the United States approaches immigration. For many of her clients, the rules that once offered hope now feel like walls. Yet, her mission remains the same: to help them find a way through, one informed decision at a time.

Guiding Clients Through Constant Change

In an environment where laws and regulations can change faster than people can adapt, Donnette’s approach is built on preparation. She doesn’t just focus on forms and paperwork; she focuses on context. Her process starts with understanding each client’s story, background, and long-term goals. From there, she helps them see not just what’s required legally, but what’s likely to be asked, reviewed, or challenged along the way.

For her, education is the most powerful defense. She believes that informed clients are stronger, calmer, and more confident when facing interviews or hearings. She spends time explaining how new rules apply to their situations and how small details, like old records, travel history, or documentation, can make all the difference.

Her deep understanding of immigration stems not only from her legal training but also from her background in compliance and risk management. These skills have shaped her proactive style, allowing her to anticipate potential issues before they arise. Instead of reacting to policy shifts, she prepares her clients to adapt to them.

Leadership That Balances Law and Humanity

Running a law firm in such a turbulent field requires discipline, empathy, and vision, qualities that Donnette has cultivated over years of leadership. As the head of Immigration Care Service, she manages the balance between legal precision and genuine human care. Her team works closely with clients from diverse backgrounds, ensuring they receive not only sound legal guidance but also emotional support during uncertain times.

She also emphasizes the importance of staying grounded. Her philosophy is that immigration law is not just about policies or procedures, it’s about people. Every case represents a life story, a dream, or a second chance. And while the system may grow more rigid, her role is to help clients see that persistence and preparation can still lead to opportunity.

Moving Forward with Purpose

For Donnette Russell-Love, the work doesn’t end with one case or one victory. It’s about helping her clients understand the bigger picture, that success in immigration is not only about following rules, but about knowing how to navigate them with clarity and confidence.

She recognizes that the path to legal residency or citizenship is harder now than ever before. But her message is one of resilience: knowledge and preparation still open doors.

In a time when immigration policies seem to shift with every election cycle, Donnette’s approach stands out for its steadiness and humanity. She reminds her clients and the broader community that while laws may change, the pursuit of hope, belonging, and a better life remains constant. And with the right guidance, that pursuit is still worth every effort.