<p>" Amorous relationships that might be appropriate in other circumstances always have inherent dangers when they occur between any teacher or officer of the University and any person for whom he or she has a professional responsibility (i.e., as teacher, advisor, evaluator, supervisor). Implicit in the idea of professionalism is the recognition by those in positions of authority that in their relationships with students or staff there is always an element of power. It is incumbent upon those with authority not to abuse, nor to seem to abuse, the power with which they are entrusted.</p>
<p>Officers and other members of the teaching staff should be aware that any romantic involvement with their students makes them liable for formal action against them. Even when both parties have consented at the outset to the development of such a relationship, it is the officer or instructor who, by virtue of his or her special responsibility and educational mission, will be held accountable for unprofessional behavior. Graduate student teaching fellows, tutors, and undergraduate course assistants may be less accustomed than faculty members to thinking of themselves as holding professional responsibilities. They may need to exercise special care in their relationships with students whom they instruct, evaluate, or otherwise supervise, recognizing that their students might view them as more powerful than they may perceive themselves to be."</p>
<p>See, <a href=“http://www.fas.harvard.edu/home/administration/sexual_harass_guide.html[/url]”>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/home/administration/sexual_harass_guide.html</a></p>
<p>"Tufts University seeks to maintain a professional educational environment. Actions of faculty members and academic administrators that are unprofessional or appear to be unprofessional are inconsistent with the university’s educational mission. It is essential that those in a position of authority not abuse, nor appear to abuse, the power with which they are entrusted.</p>
<p>Faculty members and academic administrators exercise power over students, whether by teaching, grading, evaluating, or making recommendations for their further studies or their future employment. Amorous, dating, or sexual relationships between faculty members, academic administrators, and students are impermissible when the faculty members and academic administrators have professional responsibility for the student. Voluntary consent by the student in such a relationship is suspect, given the fundamental nature of the relationship. Moreover, other students may be affected by such behavior, because it places the faculty member and academic administrator in a position to favor or advance one student’s interest to the potential detriment of others. Therefore, it is a violation of university policy for a faculty member or academic administrator to engage in an amorous, dating, or sexual relationship with a student whom he/she instructs, evaluates, supervises, or advises, or over whom he/she is in a position to exercise authority in any way."</p>
<p>From <a href=“http://www.tufts.edu/oeo/univpolicies.html[/url]”>http://www.tufts.edu/oeo/univpolicies.html</a> (see "Policy on consensual relationships)</p>