Valley "Sugar Babies" Cash in for College Tuition
Ambitious, young and in need of cash. It's a description that fits millions of students pursuing a college education. But, rather than drown in debt many students, even some here in our Valley, are seeking the financial assistance of a "Sugar Daddy."
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Ambitious, young and in need of cash. It's a description that fits millions of students pursuing a college education. But, rather than drown in debt many students, even some here in our Valley, are seeking the financial assistance of a "Sugar Daddy."
In a spirited recruitment video, co-eds with "Daddy Issues," wear high heels, while running in short shorts.
No, it's not a real university. But, a check pictured in the video signed by a "Sugar Daddy" does represent money that nearly two million students world-wide are pursuing through the matchmaking web site SeekingArrangement.com.
"My allowance is $3-thousand a month," said 22 year-old Lauren, a so called "Sugar Baby," who spoke with our San Diego affiliate in 2013.
"I paid my car off, I paid most of school loans I paid, child care is paid. You know anything, like bills, all of it is taken care of," said Lauren.
21 News Reporter Danielle Cotterman asked the company's spokesperson, "is sex apart of these arrangements?"
"Sex is absolutely not part of the arrangements, just like in any traditional relationship that is something that is between the two parties," said SeekingArrangment.com Spokesperson Angela Jacob Bermudo. "When it comes to arrangements it's not a part of it, it's not a requirement. We are strictly just exchanging companionship in exchange for being taken care of."
According to the web site, Kent State is among the top growing Sugar Baby Schools with 998 Sugar Babies. Penn State comes in at number nine in growth with 284 Sugar Babies.
Also making the list is the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State and Ohio University.
Youngstown State wasn't among the Top 50 but, the site claims that they have 45 sugar babies this year -- that's almost three times as many as last year.
According to SeekingArrangement.com, the average college Sugar Baby earns $3-thousand per month in gifts and allowances. Sugar Daddies on average make $200-thousand a year and 40% of them are married.
"That's pretty much their business. We are not the morality police and we will not judge," said Jacob Bermudo.
21 News showed the site to Y.S.U Professor Michael Jerryson.
"I feel disgusted and I feel very sad," said Jerryson.
With a background in gender violence and discrimination, he fears the arrangements could turn dangerous for students.
"Men with the money and the power can easily begin to manipulate, or make use or abuse their privileges in this type of relationship," said Jerryson.
As for Lauren and her Sugar Daddy...
"He doesn't make me fell like I should repay him in sexual favors," said Lauren. "Maybe other single mothers, in my case, would judge me because of what I am doing but, I'm doing what I have to do to support my self and my son."
SeekingArrangement.com, says they kick off two to three-thousand users each month who try to exchange money for "services."
