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The Current September 20, 20075A + for students dating professors?others just frown upon it.Controversy flourishesas teachers and studentscontinue to dateby AMANDA ROSEIt happens, whether it is frownedupon or just plain outlawed: professorsdating students.In the August 17, 2007 edition of theChronicle of Higher Education, UCLApsychology professor Paul R. Abramsonclaims that professor/student dating isprotected by the U.S. Constitution.“Universities don’t have any businesstelling professors whom they can date;it is a violation of the professors’ rights,”Abramson said, citing the Ninth Amendment.Abramson is promoting his book,Romance and the Ivory Tower; the Rightsand Liberty of Conscience, which will bereleased early this fall.The Ninth Amendment states reads,“The enumeration of the Constitution,of certain rights, shall not be construedto deny or disparage others retained bythe people.” According to Abramson,“Despite all the things we’ve described,the people still retain their fundamentalrights. The right to reproduce is one ofthese. You have to choose who you aregoing to reproduce with, who you are goingto romance with and love.”Elliot Shimmel, division chair of SocialSciences at Longview, said that “thisissue is not necessarily backed up by theNinth Amendment. It has to go throughthe courts and the courts decide if it is actuallya legitimate right.”Not all colleges have the same guidelinesabout dating. Many forbid it, whileLongview’sDean of Instruction, Beth Lindquist,said, “Professors dating students createsa hostile environment and it is threateningto the student. It is an institutionalissue that creates sexual harassment inthe classroom.” Lindquist, who has beenLongview’s dean for six years, said shestrives to continue to create a safe environmentwhere students can learn.Metropolitan Community Collegeemployees take an online training coursefor preventing sexual harassment. This isa mandatory course and a quiz is given atthe end of the program.“I don’t think that it would be a goodidea for a professor to date a student becauseit would cause problems with otherstudents and I would feel uncomfortable.Sometimes professors might let thempass by with good grades,” Longviewsophomore Chase Davidson said.Learning Center tutor and sophomoreBen Zibers agrees. “It would beokay if the teacher would ensure the relationshipwould remain professional butthe problem is that there is still a bias inthe world. What is the point of being inschool? The point of being in school isnot to find the person you want to marry,it is to make lasting friendships and getan education. It would be a distractionfor both the student and the teacher andthe teacher would not be able to maintainprofessionalism.”The Chronicle asked Abramsonwhether he himself had ever dated a student.“I was 26 when I came to UCLA.I dated students, I dated faculty, and Idated staff,” Abramson replied. “I can’tremember if I dated students who were insee DATINGpage 11Would you date a professor?MCT CampusJessica Nealy“Yes, I would wait untilafter the semester.”John Price-Dukes“Yeeeaaahhh, whenevershe wants to.”Melissa Phillips“No, I always think ofprofessors as old guys.”Keith Hart“Not during thesemester. I would befocusing on the teacher.”Lindsey Powell“No, that’s kinda gross.”www.longviewcurrent.com