Duke Freshman outs herself

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ninerbuff
ninerbuff Posts: 48,526 Member
in Chit-Chat
The Duke University freshman working her way through college as a porn star has revealed her face and stage name.

"My name is Belle Knox, and I wear my Scarlet Letter with pride," writes the student in a strong defence of her choice to enter the adult industry on XOJane.com.

Knox says she "didn't expect today to happen" but was forced to make her decision to reveal her porn name after being "harassed".

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/duke-freshman-pron-work-college-reveals-article-1.1711103#ixzz2v6ISM6nI

The real story here IMO, is how ****ing expensive it is to go to college now. Granted she didn't have to go to Duke, but if that was her choice and was applauded for it, then no one should have a problem on how she pays for it if she isn't breaking the law to do it.
Is it the best choice? That's subjective. If she's not hurting anyone and she's willingly doing it, then it's her best choice. There are lots of college students who starve and then even once getting through college have a college loan that they have to pay off that's usually in the mid 5 figures. And lots of them DON'T pay them back. At the very least she's not borrowing money to pay for her tuition because she pays for it herself.
Thoughts?

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  • Justifier
    Justifier Posts: 336 Member
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    She's an adult. She can earn money in whatever legal way she wants. (She could do it illegally too, but I'm not going to condone that.)
  • beernpizza2
    beernpizza2 Posts: 553 Member
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    I'm kind of torn. On one hand I say good for her, she's doing what she can to get through school. On the other hand, I have two daughters, and I'd sell everything I had to get them through school and keep them from having to make money that way.
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
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    I agree that she is an adult and can earn her money whatever legal way she wants, however, she is still representing the university. I understand that as adults, we should be allowed to legally do what we want with our lives, but when you are doing something on the side that could have a negative impact on your school or regular place of business, then it's time to get your priorities in line. Does she want to be a porn star? Great more power to her! Does she want a desk job after college? That's fine too, but she needs to decide what she wants more.
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
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    Would bang
  • Justifier
    Justifier Posts: 336 Member
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    I don't understand why that affects the reputation of the university. I mean, I know it does, but why? Why does the personal life of a single student have to affect public perception of the college? Duke is still a fantastic school.

    Also, why does being a porn star have to affect her future employment? Having sex on camera doesn't make her any less capable of being a desk jockey or whatever she wants to do with her life.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,526 Member
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    I'm kind of torn. On one hand I say good for her, she's doing what she can to get through school. On the other hand, I have two daughters, and I'd put sell everything I had to get them through school and keep them from having to make money that way.
    No doubt any parent would/should. I've seen where people question why she's even going to school if she can just do porn for a career. Apparently that's not her goal.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,526 Member
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    I agree that she is an adult and can earn her money whatever legal way she wants, however, she is still representing the university. I understand that as adults, we should be allowed to legally do what we want with our lives, but when you are doing something on the side that could have a negative impact on your school or regular place of business, then it's time to get your priorities in line. Does she want to be a porn star? Great more power to her! Does she want a desk job after college? That's fine too, but she needs to decide what she wants more.
    Lol, you do realize that there are many NFL stars who are "thugs" that went to Universities and are praised as heroes for their schools?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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  • Sunbrooke
    Sunbrooke Posts: 632 Member
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    Sometimes people aren't really honest with themselves about what they really want to do for a living. I joined the Army for the college fund, but really I just didn't want to go to college yet. Maybe she secretly likes the pron industry more that she lets on. Im sure plenty of people wouldn't mind being in the sex industry if not for the stigma. Either way, she is being smart by earning a degree and not acquiring debt. She may have some trouble overcoming her past if she decides to do something else later, but there will still be opportunities available out there.
  • Monkey_Business
    Monkey_Business Posts: 1,800 Member
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    I agree that she is an adult and can earn her money whatever legal way she wants, however, she is still representing the university.

    While I disagree with her choice on how to pay for her education, she IS paying the school. The school is not paying her nor is she a salaried employee for the NC University system (at least from what I am seeing from the articles).
  • hananah89
    hananah89 Posts: 692 Member
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    I'm a UNC alum (those of you that don't know we are rivals with duke) and even my fellow students say "who cares?" If she wanted to go to duke and pay the costs, then she is an adult and can do what she wants. Although I have heard she makes so much she buys ridiculous designer things and flaunts them but that could just be a rumor...

    ETA our local news just did an article about her outting herself as well. Apparently she turned down a full ride from vanderbilt for duke? And supposedly she is a women's studies major? Seems like she wanted to do porn anyways because as she has been quoted-it makes her feel empowered.
  • vvendy_darling
    vvendy_darling Posts: 75
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    Here I thought she was a lesbian, now porn stars are outing themselves?
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
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    I agree that she is an adult and can earn her money whatever legal way she wants, however, she is still representing the university. I understand that as adults, we should be allowed to legally do what we want with our lives, but when you are doing something on the side that could have a negative impact on your school or regular place of business, then it's time to get your priorities in line. Does she want to be a porn star? Great more power to her! Does she want a desk job after college? That's fine too, but she needs to decide what she wants more.
    Lol, you do realize that there are many NFL stars who are "thugs" that went to Universities and are praised as heroes for their schools?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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    Of course I realize that. I don't think that's right either. As to the question of "why" it affects the reputation of the school, it's because people are so afraid of being judged instead of letting people live their lives. If, for example, Duke were to lose any funding because she's a porn star, my guess is they will kick her to the curb and follow the money. There is no clear right or wrong answer here. It's unfortunate that people can't legally live their lives as they wish without compromise, but it happens. Since it happens, there are personal decisions she will have to make.
  • rowlandsw
    rowlandsw Posts: 1,166 Member
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    A kid at a college in PA got in trouble for doing this to pay his bills. He paid cash and paid school off before even graduating and they wanted to throw him out. All colleges these days care about is their reputation and cash, it's not about education anymore.
  • Monkey_Business
    Monkey_Business Posts: 1,800 Member
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    She did take the 3 star system to a new level and earn a good salary.

    * note: the 3 star syustem is 1. Look like a movie STAR 2. Party like a rock STAR 3. F!!! like a porn STAR
  • badgerdh
    badgerdh Posts: 179 Member
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    A Blue Devil who gives Blue Balls...I see no problem here.
  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
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    A kid at a college in PA got in trouble for doing this to pay his bills. He paid cash and paid school off before even graduating and they wanted to throw him out. All colleges these days care about is their reputation and cash, it's not about education anymore.

    This exactly. It doesn't make it right, but it happens.

    I went to a very strict private university. I had an on campus job as an RA. Got a call from a couple of the girls on my hall one night that they needed a DD. I went to the party they were at and picked them up. That night, the party got out of control. I was pulled into the student life office, sat in a corner and was told I needed to give names of who was there. When I refused, I was told they had a reputation to uphold, I was fired and kicked off campus. I made a decision to not allow someone to drive drunk, and since I didn't report it, I got in trouble. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it happens.
  • Orion782
    Orion782 Posts: 391
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    Non-story here. She's an adult, and not doing anything criminal. How she chooses to fund that is up to her.
  • kung_fu_red
    kung_fu_red Posts: 35
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    No kidding OP! Tuition is completely insane!
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
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    . Maybe she secretly likes the pron industry more that she lets on. Im sure plenty of people wouldn't mind being in the sex industry if not for the stigma.

    I think this is the more likely explanation.

    She is using the "I am doing it to fund my education" to add legitimacy to her choice and over ride the potential social stigma.

    I think this story, in reality has very little to do with access to education, and more to do with this girl's unspoken desires.

    And her use of the scarlet letter imagery is hugely misplaced. If she wants to stand up for the rights of women to be hyper sexual (which I do support) then perhaps she could avoid an industry which is hugely manipulative and exploitative of women no matter how people try and spin it...
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
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    I read an interview she did a week or two ago off a cnn link, she said that she likes doing it, that it makes her feel empowered, that it's a decision she made. I don't think she made the decision to do it because she wanted to pay for school. The impression I got for the article was that she is a porn star who is going to college, not a college student who was scraping by and decided that she felt like she was boxed in a corner and porn became the solution. There's a difference: porn star student, student compelled to be a porn star.

    I don't feel bad for her, and I don't judge her decision. I don't remember if it mentioned what degree whe was getting, but I hope that it's something along the lines of psycology with a focus on sex, because anything else and I believe with this level of exposure (pun intended) she will have a difficult time finding a job . . . in say banking.

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