College professor here. While I do have more power over a student in my classroom, I retain considerable power over students even after they are no longer in my classes. I have plenty of pull with deans and deanlets; e.g. if I see a promising student who needs to get into a closed class, it has an impact if I (as a professor) intervene with a Dean to get the student enrolled above the course cap. Similarly, I frequently compare notes with other professors about how students are doing, and this informational sharing is also quite powerful; e.g. I’ve definitely flagged problem students so that other professors can try to steer clear. Lastly, students often need recommendations from former professors; those, too can make or break a student and I know of a professor accused of trading sex for top-notch recommendation letters. Beyond that, I also have access to any former students grades and personal information. So, yeah, I retain power even after class is over.
So, I am strongly in favor of a blanket ban on romantic relationships between faculty and undergraduates. I would happily include, however, a grandfather clause (e.g. a professor has her husband enroll at her school to finish his degree) allowing previous relationships.
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