Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships have developed among doctoral candidates working in a large university laboratory on several occasions.  Invariably these relationships have led to bad feelings, either among those involved or among their colleagues in the lab, and productivity has suffered as a result.  The director seeks to establish a policy that would sustain morale in such cases, preferably by requiring that at least one party to any such relationship must leave the lab.  Is this appropriate?  How should the director proceed?

J1G says:  What is this, a third-world country where marriages are arranged?  Geez--live and let live!  If romance between students were the only source of conflict (or conflict of interest) we would have nearly a perfect world.  Any lab director who thinks that love among equals is the source of trouble needs to get a life.

K5R says:  I disagree with a policy that would make one of two parties in a relationship leave the laboratory.  I think it is unfair and impossible to control (people would tend to be discreet rather than aboveboard) and in the end, bitter feelings could turn even more bitter.  On the other hand, I do agree with a policy in which supervisors should not be allowed to become romantically involved with those they supervise (eg, there should not be romantic relationships between an advisor and a student or advisor and staff). This is written into most human resource policies at companies and universities, and is probably sufficient.