We are writing in response to your Jan. 17 article, “‘Sugar Babies’ growing across Ohio, OU.” The article detailed the growth of college students trading “companionship,” often including sexual favors, in exchange for financial support. According to the article, tuition is the primary driver of the trend. Ohio University is one of the schools most affected; in fact, Ohio University is experiencing the 17th fastest growth in tuition prostitution worldwide.
There is no shame in sex work, but it is an outrage that women are literally being driven to prostitution because tuition is so high. It is inexcusable to force women to choose among missing out on higher education, being saddled with crippling debt or turning to sex work. This is one example of how the skyrocketing cost of tuition disproportionately burdens women, people of color and other disenfranchised groups.
It is no coincidence that so many Ohio schools are experiencing rapid growth in tuition prostitution: Public funds for higher education are rapidly evaporating. Ohio lawmakers must act to restore public higher education as a public good. But in the meantime the Ohio University Board of Trustees must immediately freeze tuition. This trend is a clear indication that continuing to push the financial burden onto students has disastrous and patently unfair consequences.
The Ohio University Student Union meets Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Baker 231.
