Dear Mona Lisa,

I'm a Junior in college and am finding myself attracted to an older man. The problem: he's a professor at my school. I tried to talk to him after receiving the "come hither" look for more than a month. I am on break now and am wondering if I should still consider talking to him. Also, the school I go to doesn't have anything in the student handbook about student teacher dating, so there is really nothing stopping me. I just need to know how I should approach him given the delicate nature of the situation.

Thanks a Bunch,
Apprehensive Junior

Dear Hot for Teacher,

If you were a junior in high school, I'd be a little worried; but you're an adult and frankly, so is your prof.

Would it be a terrible cliché to ask if he is a teacher of romance languages? (One can dream, right?) But, I digress. Even though legally you're in the clear (and most likely in compliance with University policy), you do need to take caution as to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Most likely if he's giving you "the look," you're the scholastic stimulus he's been waiting for. Return his gazes, schedule office hours and play the dedicated-student-in-distress routine. If he has any sort of professionalism, I bet you a midnight latte that he would prefer the same cautious approach you've taken. So, take it slow, but definitely go for the grade.

Start with a simple tall cup to discuss the impact of Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" on modern day power dynamic in relationships. If you can wait to throw your golden apple until he no longer has the power over your GPA, even better. (You wouldn't want the other students to think he's bending more than the curve.)

Here's for earning extra credit,
Mona