For my last project of the semester, I teamed up with 4 other journalism majors. Together we created a multi-media website focusing on the paradox of those coming into Austin to experience the culture and in turn raising the cost of living and driving out those creating the culture.
My contributions –
Tamarron Story
Raw Paw Story
Merdurhaus Story
TSTV 24seven Marathon from Belicia Luevano on Vimeo.
By Belicia Luevano
Many students have their father pay for college but Mary, a College of Liberal Arts major, has not told anyone she looks to pay for finances from older men who are not at all related to her.
Mary, a name I am using to keep her anonymous, comes from a traditional Mexican family who she says would be shocked to know she looks to pay tuition by being a sugar baby.
A website called SeekingArrangements.com matches rich men called sugar daddies, with sugar babies, attractive women who get paid for their companionship. Singles browse the profiles and match with successful men ranging from 20-70. The average allowance of a sugar baby is $3,000 a month, what women do for that money depends on the contract both parties agree on before starting their relationship.
Like many students, Mary worries about finances. Her income bracket disqualifies her from government aid so she relies on her parents to take care of the bills.
“My parents tell me not to worry but you can’t not worry,” Mary said. “I feel like a little leech.”
What started as a joke, Mary signed up to be a sugar baby to help decrease her student debt.
At least 420 new students signed up to be sugar babies in 2014 using their university email. The fastest growing student population to use sugar daddies to pay tuition is at the University of Texas. Mary is a user who does not use her college email, so there may be more sugar babies at UT but there is no way to tell
Regulated by the state, UT’s average tuition cost was $1,380 in 2003. After the 78th legislative session, a bill deregulating tuition passed and granted colleges the freedom to set their price. The average cost of tuition in the fall 2014 semester was $4,905, a $3,000 increase.
Brandon Wade, CEO and creator of the site, says his website can help students with the hefty burden of financing college.
“It’s now really expensive to complete school, most complete it with [a] huge amount of loans,” Wade said. “Joining Seeking Arrangements can help them so they don’t have to graduate with a huge amount of loans.
Many view the website as legal prostitution, but Wade said he denies that stereotype. Wade said his website is not for quick pay and meaningless relationships, rather its intent is to match successful people with someone who will add value to their lives.
“If you’re looking to charge someone a few hundred dollars to go on a date with you or sleep with you, then you’re using the website the wrong way,” Wade said.
Some students see no problem with the site while others do.
“Honestly shout out to them for doing what they have to do to get an education,” said Victoria Bass, a freshman textiles major.
Elliot Morris, a freshman business major, also understands the decision these women make.
“Although I don’t necessarily agree with the morals behind it, it’d be a great way to go to school for free,” Morris said.
“Personally I feel that there is something terrifying under the surface. I would never do it,” said Emily Gibson, a journalism major at UT who is not comfortable with the site.
“You don’t know someone’s background, where they’re coming from, or what they did to get into the university,” Mary said. “If you’re okay with it and you know what you’re getting yourself into and it’s consensual, then there’s nothing wrong with it
While many use the site as a way to pay for college, some look to find meaningful relationships. In this transaction of money for companionship, Wade said he believes true love can be found and witnessed it many times. He said that while money can’t buy love, it can buy a good first impression.
“Much like the guy who works out and has amazing arms and biceps uses his body to get attention, the guys on Seeking Arrangement are using their wallets to have a shot,” Wade said.
Before signing up, Mary said she thought sugar babies were just arm candy whose only purpose was to sit pretty and get intimate with the men in exchange for money. After speaking and getting to know 19 men, she said she realized this stereotype is not exactly true.
“A lot of these men are looking for someone intelligent, interesting and opinionated because they want someone who will be a strong partner.” Mary said. “My mom always told me smart men want a smart woman, and you could see that in the site.”
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belicia luevano 