The other day I was driving to school behind another student. At the stoplight, I looked ahead and noticed her license plate frame.

Now I enjoy a funny frame, but I felt like I had seen them all: “If you don’t like my driving, get off the sidewalk,” “My other car is a broom,” “Drive it like you stole it” and the array of royalty-related frames.

Yeah sure, you’re all princesses, I get it. But I had never seen this one before: “Good cowgirls keep their calves together.” I thought, how perfect for my column on class.

You see, I have some opinions on this whole slutty college girl thing. And I know I’m not alone. Here’s my conclusion: It’s time to regain that age- old idea that women our age used to have class.

Now I’m putting it out ahead of time that I’m not a prude. I myself enjoy a chuckle at a picture of me and my girl friends in funny poses or an inappropriate comment between friends. I’m talking more about the day-to-day, or in most cases, night-to-night, adventures of the females of our generation.

While watching television or hanging out at a party, I have begun to question a few things. When did wearing sensuous, not slutty, clothes, go out of fashion? When did acting classy become prudish and skanky become a necessity? When did virginity become the scarlet letter?

I am all about womanhood and embracing that women do not have to be seen as weak, delicate and incapable. However, to rebel against these ideas, it seems women and society have presented a new kind of woman.

She wears what she wants; whether her boobs are popping out or her skirt reveals her entire baby-maker. She has sex when she wants and where she wants; a couple of one-night stands or a BJ in a bar bathroom.

She’s occasionally homosexual; not because she actually wants to be in an intimate adult relationship with another woman, but because making out with other girls is “fun” and “turns guys on.”Frankly, I don’t give a darn what you do. But when guys see the “new” woman many are portraying, they come to expect it from all women.

For example, a few weeks ago, a guy picked up on me at the grocery store. We exchanged numbers and went on our way. While talking on the phone, we both revealed that we didn’t want a serious relationship but just someone to go out to dinner or go play pool or to the bars with.

He later asked me what my “timeline” was for when I had sex with guys. Figuring he was asking because he wanted to eventually have sex with me, I responded that I would never have sex with a guy who was just a friend.

After a moment of silence, he replied, “I better let you go then,” and hung up the phone. I haven’t talked to him since. While I find this story to be completely hilarious, it is also concerning. Has sex become an expectation?

Now some men reading this will probably be thinking “Nicki, I would never do that!” and, clearly, they don’t speak for all men. But what you need to also realize is that Slutty McSlutterson on top of the bar with her shirt off doesn’t speak for me either.

I want to see what I was taught was expected of women. To be powerful and intelligent. To be caring and compassionate. To be respectable and classy.

Apparently, Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back for the guys, so ladies, let’s bring back some class. Who’s with me?

Nicki Croly can be reached at [email protected]