The relationship between a student and his or her professor is a key component of the college experience. Both parties must work closely together and, ideally, have mutual respect for one another. But what happens when this relationship becomes romantic or sexual?
Since 1999, an average of five sexual harassment cases have been reported per year at Oregon University System campuses, which are used by about 80,000 students and 12,000 faculty and staff, according to an OUS press release.
Many question whether a student and a professor should ever engage in a romantic relationship, and understandably so. Although college-age students are often as mature (and possibly as old as or older than) their professors, there is always the distinct possibility that adding sexual politics to an academic environment will result in power play.
Students are at risk because professors have control over their academic standing. Yet professors are at risk if a consensual relationship later is interpreted in a courtroom as a case of sexual harassment.
New OUS sexual harassment guidelines approved last month should help clear up some of the aforementioned touchy issues involved in romantic relationships between professors, students or any two University members with different levels of academic or administrative power.
By September 2006, the University must implement the new OUS guidelines, including a mandate that such “power differential” relationships be immediately reported to a supervisor.
The policies were created after a female Western Oregon University student sued a professor at the school, alleging he sexually harassed her. He claimed they had a consensual romantic relationship, an assertion she denied.
The new OUS regulations should prevent such situations from occurring because any romantic relationship between a professor and a student would immediately be reported. As long as such reports are filed and available, there will be significantly less confusion as to the consensual, or non-consensual, nature of a relationship.
This policy is a good mechanism for universities to tackle the potential problem of sexual harassment. Professors accused of sexual harassment will have some protection from false allegations, but students will be safer as well. University officials are now responsible for ensuring that students need not fear academic ramifications should a personal relationship with a professor turn sour.
Although some may suggest the new policy violates personal privacy, it is important to remember that the only time such a relationship report would be analyzed would be upon a sexual harassment report. Universities are expressly not allowed, for instance, to fire a professor if he or she reports a relationship with a student.
These reporting policies also are not unique to universities. Some businesses require employees to sign legal agreements before entering consensual relationships.
Thankfully, OUS policy-makers realized it is impossible to completely prevent romantic relationships between students and professors on campuses. Moreover, as long as both partners are making decisions as consenting adults, it is hardly the responsibility of any university to engage in such regulation.
The OUS policy does assist in creating an atmosphere where romantic relationships have less chance of influencing either a student’s grade or a professor’s reputation.