Central 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.

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