Ruthie Alcaide, from MTV's The Real World Hawaii, is not bitter about her experience on The Fake World
as she called it. She spoke in Baker University Ballroom last night to a crowd of students about misrepresentation in reality television, as well as multiculturalism, sexuality and addiction.
Now that I've got celebrity status I feel a social responsibility to do a positive thing with it Alcaide said.
She showed a video clip of her clash with alcohol poisoning during the show's 1998-1999 season. Alcaide said that particular episode was difficult for her to watch, but it serves as a good lesson.
Even though she still drinks socially now, she said she worries about it becoming a problem again, and preaches personal responsibility.
Alcohol is such a huge part of the college lifestyle - and it has so much to do with sex in college
too
Alcaide said. The scary thing about alcohol is that you don't care and you think you're invincible.
She went on to speak about sexuality and her experience coming out of the closet.
Can I see a show of hands of people who are still in the closet? Alcaide jokingly asked the audience. She said coming out was difficult at first, and she had to learn not to let others make her feel guilty about being a lesbian.
Alcaide also expressed her disgust for President Bush's comments regarding same-sex marriages in his State of the Union Address.
That's just ignorance
she said. Being gay is not just a trend; it's not something you choose to be. (Bush is) going down this year
because I am registered to vote and I am not voting for (him).
She also was critical of The Real World's stereotypical portrayal of minorities and the show's lack of reality.
Audience member and OU student Danielle Stern said she thinks reality programming seems to show only stereotypes, especially in recent years, with an increasingly atypical representation of women.
Ruthie gave us insight into the reality of reality programming
she said.
Alcaide demonstrated how television programming edits situations so home viewers receive bits and pieces of an actual scenario.
It's not the whole story
but part of the truth. I got labeled as an alcoholic early on
and from then on you only saw footage of me drinking. It's like you become a caricature of yourself.
Alcaide mentioned that her alcohol problem was emphasized, but the drug habits of two other housemates never were addressed.
Alcaide's speech, sponsored by Swarm of Dykes, University Program Council and the
Student Affairs Commission, kicked off That's So Gay
Week, which is sponsored by Swarm of Dykes.
SOD president Rusty Toomey said organizers hosted similar events Winter Quarter last year to complement Out Week and Pride Week in the fall and spring.
Toomey said calling it 'That's So Gay' is their way of reclaiming the phrase.
