Feature Article Spring 2009

The Success Story of a Potential Train Wreck
A story by Jillian Wilson

Almost every college student thrives on the excuse, “I’m in college,” before making a questionable decision especially while drinking. According to Alcohol 101, an estimated 84% of college students are found to engage in binge drinking.
Don’t get me wrong, there are also the success stories of college students. Dean’s list, multiple extracurricular activities building different skills for the student to potentially get a job, or internship, and thus I would like to introduce Ryan Klutch.
Klutch is a 22 year old college senior who not only is setting himself up for success, but is also a connoisseur of which bar to go to any night of the week. A native to Pittsburgh, he lives in Mt. Lebanon and has been a waiter at Mitchell’s Fish Market for two years.
One might run into Klutch during the day when he is running around Point Park’s campus in his suit and tie, just getting out of a broadcasting “on camera” class. Or say it’s a Tuesday night and you walk into 1311 bar on the South Side, Klutch will be there, still in suit and tie, drinking his $5 Captain Morgan pitchers with friends.
This seemingly double life is very popular among college students today. Parents are disapproving, but can’t argue when they see our grades. Granted, if there is an excessive amount of partying, the grades won’t be there to back up that poor student, but a healthy dose of going out, and getting school work done, dean’s list is still possible.
Klutch started his college career at Duquesne University, joining the Roller Dukes, the campus roller hockey team, and majoring in education. Becoming a Roller Duke helped him adjust quickly to the balance of mixing studying with drinking. Klutch recalls finals weeks at Duquesne being spent at Café Fifth, a bar located one block away from Duquesne. Getting the biggest table in the bar he and several friends would hit the books and study by pitchers of beer.
By his second semester he was a business major, and looking for another major change. After a year at Duquesne, Klutch transferred to CCAC to continue his education for $20,000 less a year, and figure out where he wanted to go with it all in the end. He continued to play with the Roller Dukes, and began rooming with three of them on South Side.
While living on South Side Klutch recalls the many crazy nights, one Halloween for example, he and his three roommates thought they had a genius group costume idea. Each one dressed as a different character, there was a lawn care taker, tennis instructor, mail man, and Klutch dressed up as the pool boy. “What do all of these guys have in common you might ask yourself?” Klutch explains, “They’re all guys your wife slept with.” The costume received little recognition, but the boys were still very pleased with their group effort and consider it the most original costume they had ever seen.
Meanwhile, he picked up a major in psychology at CCAC, and also became involved in theatre. His first show he had a role in “The Bald Soprano,” and was involved in CCAC’s “One Act Festival.”
After a year and a half at CCAC, and determining he should not be allowed to analyze people as a psychologist, Klutch transferred to Point Park University. At Point Park Klutch, an average B student began making Dean’s list. He also had his stories published in the Globe, the student run newspaper, and found the major he had been searching for, broadcasting.
While at Point Park Klutch has continued meeting people and having a great time. Phil Stillwagon, 22, has gotten to know Klutch and said of him, “He’s a great student in class and a bar room hero outside of class.”
He just landed an internship at the City Paper for the summer where he will work with promotions and help develop their video coverage of events via podcasts. He plans to graduate in December of 2009 and hopes to work for ESPN or Discovery Channel and hopefully travel the globe.
Klutch is just one of the hundreds of students setting the example, as well as the bar for how to successfully survive college while having an unforgettable time. Asking Klutch about his upcoming graduation he responded with, “Do I really have to graduate? Or can I just stay here the rest of my life?”