Consensual Relationships
The subject of relationships is a difficult one for the University. For the most part, the University has no business “interfering” in the relationships of consenting adults. The balance shifts, however, when either the consent is not truly given or when the relationship raises questions of conflict of interest.
The issue of whether consent is voluntary is often raised in the context of sexual harassment. This is especially true when the parties in the relationship have unequal power.
To address the potential for conflicts of interest in consensual non-marital relationships, the University adopted the Consensual Amorous Relationship policy. The policy prohibits consensual relationships when one participant has direct evaluative or supervisory authority over the other, regardless of their respective faculty, student, or staff status.
To resolve the potential conflict, the university’s response is not to police the relationship, but to alter the party’s authority. The person in the evaluative or supervisory position must report the relationship to his or her administrative superior for the purpose of removing him/herself from authority over the other party in the relationship.