Dear Karma Cleanser:I started sleeping with my public speaking professor because I was really attracted to him. We weren’t breaking any university rules at the time. He was less than 20 years my senior and we’d sneak off together after our evening class, before he had to get home to his wife. I never really thought about what would happen at the end of the semester when grades were due. I knew that I was performing well with my speeches and debates, let alone what was going on between the sheets. But then I got a B-minus. I was outraged and went yelling to him, wondering why I hadn’t gotten an A, after all the hard work I’d done (and all kinds of extra credit, you might say).
He explained that I had done a fine job, but he didn’t want to appear to be showing me any special treatment, blah, blah, blah. I kinda flew off the handle. I know I shouldn’t have started calling his wife. I didn’t say anything, just hung up when she answered, but I know I at least planted the seed of doubt. He stopped teaching those evening classes, and now there’s no way to ever get that grade changed.– Grade Inflation
We can’t help but wonder what university you attend that allows such student-professor sexcapades. Regardless, don’t gripe too much about your less-than-perfect grade, because this whole sordid situation could have easily resulted in a bigger problem than a B-minus.
Dear Karma Cleanser:During my freshman year in college, I dated my boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend) for about six months. We attended different colleges so we were often apart. Well, one night me and my friends were hanging out and one of my friends suggested that we get some alcohol and get really trashed. So, we did. Well, two of my friends (a guy and girl) were so wasted, they started having sex in front of us. While watching them, I began to miss my boyfriend a lot. I began ranting drunkenly to a girlfriend (who wasn’t drunk) about how I missed him and wanted to be with him. Well, next thing I know, I’m in her bed and we’re fooling around. It was my first (and safe to say “only”) girl-girl experience. I never told my (ex)boyfriend about my quasi-lesbian experience. Even though we had only been dating a month, I felt he would’ve been upset, unlike other guys who would’ve responded, “That’s so hot.”– Lesbian-for-a-night
With you out drinking and hooking up with your girlfriends, no wonder the relationship didn’t last. Don’t beat yourself up too badly, though; there’s no telling what your boyfriend was doing at exactly the same moment. Such is the beauty of college life.
Been bad? Send your confessions, questions and recipes for humble pie to karma@creativeloafing.com.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2002.
