Now that Cupid’s day has zipped by, it is time to reflect on how his arrow struck your heart that romantic evening in chemistry class.

It wasn’t the gum-smacking, crack-showing fool sitting next to you that caught your eye — it was your first class with Professor Heartthrob, whose muscles flexed over his test tube while his blue eyes invited you to learn about the red stuff bubbling inside of it.

OK, so this type of situation would never occur. Chemistry professors are rarely buff, and relationships certainly don’t arise between faculty and students at our school … or do they?

With almost 29,000 students on campus, it might be more common than you think. What’s worse is that SF State has no policy to prevent this conduct from happening.

Out of 23 California State University campuses, 14 schools have adopted rules against student and professor relationships. But SF State is not one of them.

“Some campuses see the need to do this, and some campuses don’t,” CSU Media Relations Director Clara Potes-Fellow said.

University Spokeswoman Ellen Griffin said SF State decided not to adopt a policy for two reasons.

“There’s a constitutional freedom of association,” Griffin said, which allows adults to choose whom they want to have a relationship with. She also said the university has a sexual harassment policy that should cover any situation that might arise when professors and students go over the line.

“The inappropriate aspects of that association are covered by that policy,” she said.

While there might be indication that these relationships are frowned upon, there should be more pressure on professors and students to maintain professional relationships with an actual policy in place.

Rick, a 26-year-old San Francisco resident who wanted his last name withheld, said he dated one of his college professors as an English major at Cal State, Los Angeles.

Rick’s professor, who was also his advisor, often took his class to see Shakespeare plays to follow her lectures. One evening, no one was able to attend the play except for Rick and his professor.

Rick said after their car broke down on their way to the play, they decided to share a hotel room to lessen the costs. Rick said it was a bit awkward at first, but they started drinking and things just propelled from there.

They continued to have sex at least four times after that night, Rick said.

“I think she was into the situation,” he said. “I think the whole part of it not being right turned her on more.”

But he knew not to tell anyone. “I knew to keep it quiet or I wouldn’t get it again,” he said.

Although he knew it wasn’t right, he didn’t mind. “I didn’t care. I totally didn’t care,” he said.

In class, he didn’t see it to be a problem. “Honestly, it wasn’t anything. I totally separated it from the school. It didn’t bother me.”

We cannot be so naive to think that relationships like these don’t exist between professors and students. What’s worse is that our school affirms that this behavior is acceptable without a clear policy in place to prevent it.

CSU East Bay’s policy outlines the difference between the professor and student’s role, saying “these relationships are strongly discouraged.”

The policy clearly states: “Anyone finding themselves romantically involved with someone of unequal status over which they have authority should discuss the issue with their supervisor immediately, so that appropriate administrative actions may be taken to protect the rights of all involved persons.”

Even if a school does have a policy like this one, it does not mean that it will be enforced. But our school won’t even declare that this conduct is wrong.

There is mainly an ethical and professional issue at hand. A professor works in a position of power and has a responsibility to act as the student’s superior. When these roles meet in the middle, trouble begins to brew.

Favoritism may also come into play despite efforts otherwise. Other students may also question the motives behind the student’s intentions of dating his or her professor, citing a good grade as a possible explanation.

If the relationship goes bad halfway through the semester, it may force both parties to postpone a breakup because of awkwardness in class, questions that may arise from classmates, or the fear of a grade change.

I’m not saying relationships should not occur between professors and students, but both parties should postpone pursuing a relationship until the student is no longer a part of the class. In other words, keep it professional.