I am writing in response to the editorial "Outlawing Teacher-Student Romances" in the Feb. 20 issue of The Spectrum.
I would agree with The Spectrum that for "academic responsibility," faculty and teaching assistants should not have sexual relations with their students. Beyond that, I believe the sexual actions of consenting adults are a private matter.
The writer of the article goes on to say, "College years are very short and intimate relations can be waited out." First, I don't think four or more years is a short period of time in a young person's life. Second, I guess it is socially appropriate to send our young men and women to die in wars at 18 years old, but they can't drink alcohol until they are 21 years old.
If you follow the author's mentality, they shouldn't have sex until they are 22 years old. I hope the condoms that are distributed at the Wellness Center, and on some occasions at UB, are in color. I think colored condoms would make prettier balloons.
I came to UB for more enlightenment, not to go back to the dark ages. I believe our intellect, spirituality and sexuality are intertwined. All of us, no matter what our age, are hopefully a work in progress. Let's all be free to progress.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
