And while the antics of many coeds might not necessarily mirror a raunchy "Girls Gone Wild" episode, this time of year can be worrisome for their parents, particularly in light of yesterday's alarming announcement by the Centers for Disease Control that one in four teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease.

Add to that today's relaxed rules about sexual relationships, and it's enough to make parents feel as if they are out of sync, which they probably are. That's why a new book just out, by La Salle University assistant professor Kathleen A. Bogle, could come in handy for people trying to understand what's going on. Called "Hooking Up: Sex, Dating and Relationships on Campus" (New York University Press, 2008), the book lays it all out there for old-schoolers who still think it's all about boy and girl meet, boy and girl date, and then, possibly, boy and girl get physical.

"It's kind of a reversal of the traditional way of doing things," Bogle said yesterday. "It used to mean be that dating might lead to something sexual happening and now, something sexual happening might lead to dating."

Bogle, 33, who conducted her research at two other East Coast schools prior to joining the faculty at La Salle, said that the new-school style of initiating intimacy doesn't begin with a movie or a dinner out. "Now, it's more hanging out in groups, partying, then the people pair off to hook up."

And often, that's all there is to it and they're off to other partners, which is dangerous considering the risk of disease. If both parties are similarly disinterested in having a relationship, no one gets hurt, is the thinking. But what about the partner, typically the female, who hooks up with a guy, secretly hoping to kick-start a romantic relationship? That's where the hurt feelings come in, not to mention a sense of feeling used afterward.

And despite so-called modern attitudes, females still have to guard against being labeled a slut or promiscuous for engaging in the same activity the guys do if they cross some ill-defined line such as hooking up with two guys in the same fraternity. It's not fair but things haven't changed all that much. The double standard still exists, which is why hooking up is a dicey game to play.

Besides, women aren't always up-front about their motivations for indulging in this behavior. Bogle's findings bear this out. She writes, "Most of the students indicated that college men favor casual sexual encounters or casual relationships, whereas women prefer more committed relationships. Therefore, while the hookup system works for men, it does not provide a good way for women to get what they want."

Thankfully, for me, my college days are over. And I don't have kids so I don't have to confront the whole hooking-up culture. But for parents trying to understand this new world, here's a quiz to see how well you understand the games your kids might be playing.

What is hooking up?

a) Having sex

b) kissing and heavy petting

c) oral sex

d) all of the above

Answer: d) All of the above. "Clearly, 'hooking up' does not have a precise meaning; it can mean kissing, sexual intercourse or any form of sexual interaction generally seen as falling in between those two extremes."

What usually happens afterward?

a) the couple exchanges numbers

b) the couple makes a movie or dinner date

c) often nothing

Answer: c) often nothing.

"College students recognize hooking up as the pathway to a potential romantic relationship, yet a hookup does not guarantee any commitment beyond when the encounter takes place. . . . Students said that the most likely outcome of any particular hookup encounter is 'nothing' which means not hearing from the person again unless you coincidentally see him or her at another social event and decide to hook up again."

Who do hookups typically happen with?

a) a "random" stranger

b) a friend with benefit

c) person who places a booty call

d) any of the above

Answer: d) any of the above *