2008 Woodie Awards
Real World ‘stars’ visit campus
By: Lindsay Henry
Staff Reporter
- Page 1 of 1
|
Ryan EvonCentral Michigan University can’t seem to get enough of “The Real World” these days.
After hosting reality stars CT from Paris and David from Seattle, students once again got a taste of “Real World” “reality” two hours earlier than usual on Tuesday night.
Cast members Rachel Moyal and Lacey Buchler from MTV’s “The Real World: Austin” visited Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium at 8 p.m. – two hours before the actual show aired at 10 p.m.
“Hopefully this gets over by 10. I want to watch the show tonight,” said Midland sophomore Kristen McDonald.
“The Real World” is a popular reality television show where seven strangers live and work together in an appealing location, while filming the drama that unfolds. The cast members from “Real World: Austin” talked to students about leadership, getting involved in the community and the war in Iraq.
“We saw them at a conference in Florida and got to hear them talk about leadership and overcoming obstacles,” said Heather Hillman, Malcomb junior and Program Board member. “It’s nice because they talk about current issues and thought it would be good for campus students.”
The Program Board-sponsored event opened with Buchler addressing the issues of getting involved in the community and the stereotypes people place on each other. She referred to her boyfriend Ryan, who is now in a wheelchair because of a car accident that broke his back.
“We really don’t realize how lucky we are,” Buchler said. “They don’t want to park up front – they have to.”
She stressed the importance of getting to know different people because all people want is to know that others care. She described the diversity of people she met while being a hairstylist and the problems they have.
“People like these ... If I hadn’t met them, I wouldn’t be as open as I would be,” she said.
Buchler then introduced fellow cast member Rachel Moyal, who talked about her experiences as a nurse in Iraq.
“I wanted that flight to last forever and I hate flying,” Moyal said, after finding herself on a plane to Kuwait on March 21, 2003.
Moyal said by visiting colleges across the country, it made her wish she would have gone to college to get the experience.
She also explained the stresses she had to deal with overseas and on the show and how it forced her to become a leader.
Students were able to ask the reality stars questions about themselves and the popular show in a 30 minute question-and-answer session.
“The show is all based on reality,” Buchler said. “(But) they make it more intense then it should be and pick out certain characteristics to stereotype you.”
The reality stars also dished some dirt on their fellow cast members. Moyal and Buchler said the Austin cast members still get along except for Danny and Melinda – two cast members that began a relationship on the show and are still together, according to Moyal and Buchler.
“Our last episode is very painful,” said Buchler. “It’s definitely not a slumber party.”
The reality stars gave advice to students who want to be on “The Real World.” Moyal suggested going to a casting call because six of the seven Austin cast members were picked at their casting call. Buchler – the lone cast member to send in a videotape – said it is important to make MTV want to get to know you because then the audience will want to get to know you.
MTV is now taking applications for season 17. Candidates must be between 18 and 24 years old.
