Friday, September 27, 2024
‘I didn’t drop out, but I’m still a stripper’ OSU, college grads find work at Cowboy Cabaret
BELLA CASEY
STAFF REPORTER @BELLACASEYYY Students joke about it, but Ginger did it. Some use the phrase “I’ll just become a stripper” to say they are tired of studying, doing homework or taking tough classes. Some associate dancing with making money easily or think of it as a way to make money without having a college degree. “You definitely hear that in college, but I mean, then you have me,” Ginger said. “I have a degree. I didn’t drop out, but I’m still a stripper.” Ginger, whose name is being withheld by The O’Colly for safety reasons, graduated from OSU in 2019 with a food science degree. She used it to get two jobs after college: one in southern Oklahoma, a location she disliked, and another that was temporary. She didn’t enjoy either of them. But she enjoyed taking pole dancing classes. She started taking them years before she started dancing at the Cowboy Cabaret, a Stillwater adult entertainment venue, but it was only for fun. “I came in here as a customer and was talking to some of the girls,” Ginger said. “And I’m a very social person, and I am energized and fueled by human contact and talking to people. And I like to be out. And so between loving dancing and loving socializing, it just
seemed like a perfect opportunity to give it (dancing) a try.” It’s how she’s made a living the past seven months. The red, blue and green flashing lights inside the Cowboy Cabaret shed light on the stereotypes that surround dancing. Ginger’s story isn’t unique. The Cowboy Cabaret, a lonely white brick building located about 10 minutes from the heart of Stillwater, employs multiple other college graduates, a certified nursing assistant and women with “day jobs.” “The whole idea of, ‘I’m just going to drop out of school,’ it’s funny,” said James Sanders, owner of the Cowboy Cabaret. “One of our girls has two grad degrees, an undergrad degree and is in the process of getting her doctorate. We have another one that’s got her master’s. There’s really no sense in dropping out unless you just want to.” Harley has worked at the Cowboy Cabaret, formerly the Blue Diamond, for nine years. The married mother of two spent hours sitting at the bar doing homework or studying, earning her an undergraduate and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University, and she’s preparing to apply for law school. She dreams of attending the University of Arkansas School of Law. Dancing allowed her to study and do classwork during the day as well as take care of her children.
Bella Casey Harley, who has worked at the Cowboy Cabaret for nine years, said she has used the money she makes as a stripper to put herself through school, with dreams of attending law school.
Harley’s end goal is to work with children, and she left dancing in 2022 to work for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. She returned to the Cowboy Cabaret in November 2023, but she said she isn’t back at square one. She’s home. “We’re all like a dysfunctional family in here,” Harley said. Dancers, staff and the owners of the Cowboy Cabaret arrive at the venue before it opens at 7 p.m., but customers usually don’t arrive for a few hours. This gives the women the freedom to spend their down time sitting at the bar or booths, while others laugh and talk behind the blue satin curtain that covers the entrance to the dressing room.
Sanders and his partner prepare the venue for customers by stocking the bar for the night or picking up fast food for some of the dancers, who are in the building by the time it opens to customers. The Cowboy Cabaret has 10 “house girls,” who are scheduled to work at least four days a week but can work up to seven. Dancers pay a fee based on what they do, such as private dances, table dances or VIPs. They keep all the money they make on stage. Security staff are paid based on how many dancers are in the building. Dancers must buy their own outfits, but the Cowboy Cabaret offers classes to help them learn to dance.
See STRIPPER on page 4A
UHS to host free flu vaccination clinic HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
File Photo Murray Gauld (right) said he encourages students to take a chance and study abroad.
Center of Global Learning at OSU hosts annual Study Abroad Day Many students believe their financial HAYDEN ALEXANDER situation determines their ability to NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
study abroad, but The Center of Global Learning provides multiple scholarThe Center of Global Learning at OSU ship opportunities and financial help to held its annual Study Abroad Day on students. Sept. 19. “OSU is usually ranked No. 1 in the Despite the heat, multiple colleges, Big 12 in terms of study abroad scholarprofessors and students came together ships; sometimes it’s around $900,000 to share their experiences abroad and a year annually given away,” Ball said. showcase all the opportunities available “We’ve got a lot of programs that are to students. affordable, and we have a lot of oppor“It’s our biggest event of the year for tunities on campus for students to get students to come find out about the opscholarships.” portunities that may be for them here at For other students, a potential roadOSU,” Interim Director for the Center of block is a lack of travel experience. Global Learning Sam Ball said. Manager of Outreach Programs and OSU has more than 75 different study Operations for the College of Arts and abroad programs available to students. Sciences Shane O’Mealy said he encourBall said there is a program for everyages students to get out of their comfort body, no matter their major, year or zone. travel experience. “We get a lot of students that have “There are programs for everybody,” never traveled; some of them have never Ball said. “The students that may never left the state or been on airplanes,” have been abroad that are wanting to O’Mealy said. “It really is about getting have a little bit more structure, our an experience with a different culture short-term programs are great. For more and a different point of view.” independent students wanting to have Anyone can study abroad, Ball said. a little bit more long-term exposure, we He also pointed out the different prohave semester or year-long programs.” grams for freshmen.
See GLOBAL on page 5A
cinations have been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death.” OSU UHS hosts an annual flu vaccination clinic to help students Autumn in Oklahoma is startgain better access to the vaccine. ing strong with a temperature drop The clinic allows convenient and some scattered showers. As access to the vaccine and is free for temperatures plunge, flu season students. Benefit-eligible faculty gears up. and staff can also receive the vacThe flu, or influenza, is a respicine. ratory virus that affects millions Turner said the clinic is open yearly, according to the Centers for to all students, regardless of their Disease Control. medical status or circumstances. OSU UHS is hosting a flu vac“It helps our students and the cine clinic from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. community,” Turner said. “It’s free, Wednesday in the Student Union it’s easy, and it gives every student Ballroom. Students attending can the opportunity to receive the vacfind more information on the UHS cine, even if they don’t have health website, including a printable con- insurance.” sent form, which will be available The clinic is a preventative meaat the event. sure and helps educate students on The flu is highly contagious, prioritizing their health during flu and cases can range from mild to season. severe, sometimes leading to death. “Flu vaccination can reduce flu The CDC advises combatting the illnesses, doctor’s visits and missed flu with the flu vaccine. work and school due to the flu and “An annual-season flu vaccine is prevented flu-related hospitalizathe best way to help reduce the risk tions and deaths,” Turner said. of getting the flu and any of the “University Health Services wants potentially serious complications,” to ensure the well-being of the Associate Director of Clinical university community and preOperations for University Health ventative education in support of Services Alyssa Turner said. “Vac- students’ academic success.”
See UHS on page 6A
File Photo University Health Services is offering free flu shots Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.