Can a Student Date a Professor?

Here's a question that is sure to spark some debate -- can a student date a professor? It's a question that has been around as long as students have had professors and professors have had students. Student/professor relationships are perfect for the gossip circles in the quad or the cafeteria on any campus, even at a community college like GCC.

Student/professor relationships can be broken down into 3 categories:

1) While actively in a class together
2) After a class is completed
3) With 2 people who never cross academic disciplines

At Greendale Community College Dean Pelton has a very strict policy about student/professor relationships. He has even crafted a scale from 1-10, rating the hottest and most eligible students and professors to anticipate possible couples before they unite.

Valentine's Day seems to remind me of such relationships, especially when you see them flaunted at the school dance. I suppose I could be in support of categories 1 & 2, but since I'm currently single I'm bitter toward anyone in a relationship.

How do you all feel? Not just student/professor relationships, lets throw a Valentine's Day into the conversation too. I love sparking conversation across campus. Watching people who might not ever speak to one another discussing hot topics in the cafeteria line or the at the coffee bar.

Go get to talking!

Can You Date a Friend's Ex?

Maybe it's because Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but relationships have been on my mind... constantly. Everywhere I turn on campus I see people in love, or lust, or whatever it's called these days. Hand holding, kissing under the tree, cuddling on the bench, sexting. It's endless. And of course Valentine's Day makes it that much worse. You can't even go to the grocery store without being reminded of singles awareness day. Heart-shaped cookies, red velvet cake, red and pink candy. When will it end? Well, I guess in exactly 10 days on February 15th, when we can finally put this awful day behind us.

However, since I'm on the subject of romance, I have a question for all of you. Can you date a friend's ex? It's a question I have wrestled with for several years. One of my best friends in high school starting dating my ex-boyfriend after we graduated. Needless to say, she was not my best friend for much longer. I just couldn't get over the feeling that after my three-year relationship with this guy, she was waiting in the wings to sweep him up once we had broken up. I always questioned her loyalty after that and couldn't regain the trust.

Now, I'm not bitter enough to realize that there are varying degrees of friendships and factors that may make the situation acceptable. But, what are those situations? For instance...

If you've only casually dated someone for less than six months, can a friend date them after?
If you've been in a committed relationship with someone for more than six months, can a friend date them after?
If you've had a crush on someone and been vocal about it, can a friend date that person first?
If you've dated someone for more than a year, can a friend date them after?

Now, I'm not bitter enough to realize that there are varying degrees of friendships and factors that may make the situation acceptable. But, what are those situations? For instance...

You see where I'm going here, right? There are so many variables that it's almost too difficult to make up one's mind in one direction of another. So, I've decided to implement a "no dating a friend's ex" policy in my life to avoid any gray areas that might pop up.

What do you think?

Take Risks and Try New Things

As we enter this new semester in a brand new year, and a brand new decade for that matter, it is even more important than ever to think about the resolutions you have made and will continue to make over the year. The first, take risks and try new things.

At the end of last semester, Mr. Winter passed out discount coupons for this semester's classes and registration. With this great opportunity comes great responsibility to choose classes that will benefit you and your future. The new Interpretive Dance class taught by Madame Lamont is a perfect example. Interpretive Dance will not only fulfill the requirements here at Greendale Community College, it will fulfill the requirements of your soul. Two students that have already enrolled and taken full advantage of the class are Britta and Troy. You may ask, why are the feminist and the school jock taking such a sissy class? Because they have entered into the new decade willing to take risks and try new things. And you know what happened? They executed the best dance performance that Greendale has ever seen! We couldn't be more proud of them. So follow in their footsteps and try new things this semester.

Britta also tried something she has never tried on an emotional level: she admitted her feelings for Jeff! That's right folks, a confidential informant confirmed this rumor after the dance recital and we couldn't be happier. The flirtation has gone on far too long and it's about time that she admitted her feelings. Sadly, she may have waited too long seeing as Jeff has a new girlfriend. But the important thing is she took a risk on love and I encourage you all to start the year off right and do the same. But make sure you take the "Are You Really Ready?" quiz before you commit to the 'ship (relationship that is).

However, there are some risks you should not take and some new things you should not try. The first, dating a teacher. Dating your teacher, no matter how good looking he/she is, is not only creepy and frowned upon, but it is a liability. Let's say you forgot your one-month anniversary. You will potentially be punished off campus for your thoughtlessness, but you may also be punished in the classroom with an "F" on your next quiz. Furthermore, there is an immense amount of time consuming and frivolous paperwork that needs to be filled out to document the relationship and by the time you fill it all out you will probably already be broken up. Once again, not worth it.

So start this decade off right and take some risks in life, love, and your education. Just keep in mind that taking a risk that combines both love and education may not be the best idea.