Most students get a part-time job working behind a counter or a register to help pay their college bills8212;but not this one.
A female student, who asked to not be identified for fear of repercussions, is working as a prostitute to put herself through college.
“I want to pay my way to get out of debt,” she said. She’ll keep it up until she’s “out of debt and out of school,” or until she doesn’t enjoy it anymore, she said.
Twelve years ago, the student was a dancer in strip clubs. Then in 2000, she made the jump to professional prostitution by joining an escort agency. She didn’t care much for it, though. Her bosses set up who she would meet with, and the unknown made her feel threatened, she said.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” she said. There were a lot more “drunks and druggies” than she expected, she said.
In 2005, while she was working on a mass communication degree at the U, she went solo. She designed her own Web site to advertise, set her own rates, made her own appointments and controlled the situation.
The Web site is a pink and grey portal to her services. It lists the different “services” she’s offering, how much they cost, pictures of her, customer reviews and even stores she would appreciate a gift from, including Victoria’s Secret and Best Buy.
She picks the client8212;not the other way around. By now, she’s pulling in eight to 10 clients a week. She can make up to $1,000 a week with that sort of turnout.
“They’re mostly businessmen, and there’s a few students,” she said.
So far, she, any other prostitutes on campus, and their U clientele have successfully kept a low profile from the long arm of the law.
“In the 36 years I’ve been here, I have never seen a complaint dealing with prostitution,” said Capt. Lynn Mitchell of the U Police Department. Nor are the U police actively investigating prostitution rings.
She isn’t too worried about getting caught, she said. She’s told all of her boyfriends and close friends about what she does. The only ones who don’t know are her parents, grandparents and son, she said.
Even though she earned her mass communication degree, she’s sticking around at the U to work on a second degree. She said she might make use of her diplomas8212;she’s dreamed of becoming a print journalist8212;but she still plans on staying in the world’s oldest profession on the side.
“I love meeting people. I am very open. I love sex. Why not get paid to do what I like to do?” she said. “I am having so much fun right now8212;and I will continue until I’m not having fun anymore.”
Comments have been disabled on this article to protect the student’s identity. E-mail [email protected] with any comments or concerns.