A friendly pat on the back, brushing up against one another down the hall or holding eye contact for just one second too long; How close is too close when it comes to having a relationship with your teacher?

I’m sure everyone has imagined the typical Playboy stereotype of the naughty schoolgirl with the mean, old professor, but seriously, it’s probably just your history teacher with that girl who sits two rows behind you.

It’s one thing to be totally on board and supportive of a student and encourage him or her to do better while helping him or her out, but it’s another thing when that teacher crosses the line and is now sleeping with that student.

There is a new and very “evil” plague enthralling America at this very moment. Teachers we have entrusted to protect and instruct young adults are breaching the limitations of sexual etiquette and actually having intimate relations with their young college students.

Student-teacher relationships are all too apparent in society today and it seems as if it has become the sexy new thing. This is happening in colleges, and probably more than you think. And yet we only seem to hear about the ones that involve younger children. Why? You may ask.

Well, it’s because, technically, this student-teacher, intimate relationship is allowed when the professor isn’t your actual professor at the time. If they just so happen to teach at the school, it’s only frowned upon, and not much can really be done. Frowning and looking the other way is basically the maximum punishment a professor may receive.

One thing I believe these teachers forget is that there are boundaries. Boundaries are lines that are not to be crossed.

And many seem to just step over that line, not taking into consideration the student’s feelings, their position as teachers or their jobs. Journalism professor Alan Miller agreed that one needs to be careful about making comments in class or to students in particular about sex, race, ethnicity, politics, etc. that could be misconstrued.

“Never place yourself in a position with a student that can be misinterpreted. I remain available to my students both personally and via e-mail,” Miller said, “But I’ve been around long enough to be aware of the potential pitfalls, particularly between male professors and female students. In short, the relationship between student and professors should be strictly professional.”

What is wrong with America today? Lines need to be drawn between teachers and students; otherwise no one will know when they cross it. Here at Sac State, do you ever wonder if anything like this can ever happen?

I’m sure it crosses everyone’s minds, but when teachers close their doors behind them when there are students in their offices, no one ever knows what’s happening for sure. It can be completely innocent, which it probably is 99 percent of the time, but that one percent is what makes you think!

It’s disgusting to even think about your English teacher having relations with that kid who sits in the back, but the truth of the matter is, it happens.

The key to not turning into a bad college rape statistic is knowing when someone is crossing the line. I hope all teachers take a course on harassment; a course that shows them what’s OK and what’s not OK. This way no questions will come up over whether something is right or wrong.

According to the Sac State University’s Policy Manual under the sexual harassment policy, “No person who has instructional responsibilities (faculty, instructor, graduate assistant, adjunct, undergraduate assistant, tutor) shall have an amorous relationship (consensual or otherwise) with a student who is enrolled in a course taught by the person with instructional responsibilities whose academic work (including work as a teaching assistant, internship supervision, etc.) is being supervised by the person with instructional responsibilities.”

In simpler terms, that means teachers cannot have affairs with their students if they are currently teaching those students. But that sure doesn’t seem to stop some teachers.

Maybe you think college professors becoming sexually involved with students doesn’t happen around here. But take into consideration this situation, which brings the issue closer to home.

Meghan, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, is a former local college student who had a sexual relationship with a professor. Meghan said she was pursued by this teacher and was visited by him frequently while at her job.

At first, he was not aware she was a student or that she was only 20. Still, after finding out her age, the teacher, who was also a sports coach, continued to have a relationship with her.

She would visit his office during school and basically pretend she was visiting him for school-related issues. But that’s not what was really going on. When they would go out on dates, they would stay away from the city to avoid running into anyone they knew.

He then broke it off with Meghan shortly after he met a lively new freshman who had just started at the university.

I like my teachers and everything, but I would never think to have a relationship with any of them. I don’t think I like them that much.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]