Exeposé
| Week SIXTEEN
NEWS
www.exepose.ex.ac.uk
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‘Sugar baby’ defends Seeking Arrangement
Salonee Kakodkar UNIVERSITY students have come under fire in the national press this week as a result of participation in “sugar daddy” dating sites. However, a female student, from Leeds has spoken in defense of the contentious dating site. The students told Leeds Student, Leeds’ student newspaper, that she actively uses the site www.SeekingArrangement.com.The student refused to comment on whether she was sexually involved with the man she had an “arrangement” with. However, she did express: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it at all” and argued that she would definitely recommend the site to other students. National reports suggest that female students at some of Britain’s top universities are increasingly signing up to “sugar daddy” dating agencies as they strive to cope with rising levels of debt. SeekingArangement.com is the most popular website amongst UK stu-
dents. Participants agree to take “sponsor money” from wealthy benefactors known as “sugar daddies” or “sugar mommies”, using the money to cover the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses while at university. In 2012, more than 100 students at the University of Exeter signed up online to participate in this “sugar daddy dating” scheme. The University of Cambridge topped the list with 168 students signing up, while Exeter ranked 15th. SeekingArangement.com defines an “arrangement” as a “Mutually Beneficial Relationship” between two people. Brandon Wade, founder and leading dating expert states on the site: “Successful relationships are two people being brutally honest with each other and whether you are seeking love, companionship, friendship or financial help, we hope you will find the perfect match.” The US-based website is frequented by male business executives on an average income of £170,000 per year. Women who sign up can agree to ex-
change their time and affection for lavish dates, expensive gifts, or regular cash allowances. A survey conducted by the website last year estimated 80 per cent of all the relationships involved sex, claiming an average female university student received £5,000 per month from their “benefactors” defined as, “successful and generous men.”
“I definitely don’t think there’s anything wrong with using sites like these” ‘Sugar Baby’ Vicki The founder rejected criticism that the nature of his site could be interpreted as a form of prostitution, stating that “sugar babies” were “intelligent, goal-oriented ladies.” A spokesperson from SeekingArrangement has defended the website’s aims: “This is about women who are looking for a relationship with a wealthy man who has the means to
spoil and support her. These are consenting adults who know what they want out of a relationship, and they come to our site to find that.” Simon Wright, Deputy Director of Academic Services at the University of Exeter said: “We would advise our students to be cautious about entering into such arrangements. There are more conventional ways to find financial support – the Access to Learning fund can assist students, largely through non-repayable grants. The University has many scholarships and bursaries which are available. “Scholarships are awarded for various reasons, including academic merit, personal achievement and intellectual ability. Our Career Zone helps students find part time work and guides them on their careers after graduation. Our Career Mentor Scheme builds professional relations between undergraduates and alumni who are working in their chosen field.”
Top Unis for Sugar Babies 1. University of Cambridge -168 2. LSE -163 3. University of Kent -160 4. University of Nottingham - 155 5. Glasgow Caledonian Uni - 154 6. University of Southampton - 153 7. Oxford Brooks University - 150 8. University of Edinburgh -148 9. University of St Andrews - 147 10. University College London - 140 11. Brunel University, London - 137 12. University of East London - 136 13. University of Manchester - 134 14. Goldsmith, University of London - 133 15. University of Exeter - 129 16. Queens University Belfast - 120 17. University of Westminster - 115 18. University of Leeds - 98 19. University of Surrey - 96
MPs say police may have rigged stats Spotlight back on streetlights to paint brighter picture of crime Jon Jenner Games Editor
Katya Simms QUESTIONS have arisen over whether Devon and Cornwall police have purposely spun their figures on crime in the area in order to present a more positive outlook than the one offered by national statisticians. Statistics recently released by the Office of National Statistics signify that crime has risen by 5 per cent in Devon and Cornwall for the year leading up to September 2012.The figures reveal that the number of crimes in both Devon and Cornwall are the highest of any police force in England and Wales. However, Devon and Cornwall Police issued their own figures on the same day as those of the Office of Na-
Photo: Josh Irwandi
tional Statistics indicating that crime had fallen by 5.5 per cent between April 2012 and January 2013. MPs in the two counties have called for an explanation over the con-
fusing image that has been presented. Devon and Cornwall Police claim that there was “no conspiracy” and “no deliberate spin”.
PLANS to cut back on night-time street lighting across the city are to be discussed at the next meeting of the Exeter Board. The plans, which would result in many student residential areas around the city being left in the dark, have been widely criticised as being unsafe. In conjunction with the Students’ Guild, Exeposé ran the “Save Our Streetlights” campaign, resulting in over 2,500 signatures for a petition against the proposal. The campaign cited Weymouth as a recent example of why the switch-off is dangerous, as the Dorset town has been forced to switch streetlights back on following a surge in crime in darkened areas. Thanks to the influence of the campaign, the Students’ Guild will be
consulted by the council as plans progress, along with the police and city councillors, with the councillors supposedly gauging residents’ reaction to the plans. However, there remains concern amongst some councillors that the county council is not planning enough consultation before enforcing the scheme. A second year English student that signed Exeposé’s petition commented: “It’s good to see that the issue is still a concern for the council and that the university will be involved in any decision that’s made. However, this decision could impact on a wide range of people so the council must ensure that it engages with the people actually living in the affected areas”. Stick with Exeposé for any further developments on the SOS campaign and the progress of the council’s scheme.