Bright Eyes: Prostituting for College

Michelle Paulino
Opinions Editor

Today, the typical cost of attending a four-year university ranges from $20,000 to $60,000. Tuition is increasing, classes are stressful and the job market is not doing too well either. If you are like the thousands of people who do not qualify for financial aid, slipping into unrecoverable student loan debt is easy.
Dating “sugar daddies” is becoming an interesting “trend” for many female students in tight financial predicaments. Sites such as SeekingArrangement.com and SugarDaddie.com cater to young women who seek an older benefactor. The actions that transpire in exchange for compensation are completely in the hands of the man they select. This exchange can vary from seeking a lunchtime companion to favors of another…nature.
Much controversy has surrounded this concept because the line between prostitution and sponsorship blurs significantly. Essentially, young students are selling themselves for monetary profit, the very tenant of prostitution. Yes, I understand, desperate times call for desperate measures, but renting yourself out to some man who “seeks” people specifically in your position is not the answer.
Not only is the practice unethical, but it is also dangerous. In this situation, the “sugar babies” are putting themselves in vulnerable positions with men from the recesses of the Internet. If paying off your education is that important to you, consider schools that are realistically payable with legitimate employment or scholarship opportunities. Although gradual, at least being able to responsibly pay off a loan leaves you with dignity and self-respect.