MTV reality stars visit students

A mix of rain, snow and sunshine didn't prevent IU students from attending a casting call Saturday with stars from "The Real World." The event, also a promotion for Bradford Place Apartments, took place at the complex's Third Street office from 2 to 5 p.m.\nSyrus Yarbrough from "The Real World Boston" and Ace Amerson from "The Real World Paris" were hosts of the casting call. Attendees were able to submit applications for a chance to be on reality television shows in addition to touring the Bradford Place Apartments. Music, food, T-shirts and door prizes were also provided.\nSenior Elizabeth Lang said she thought the event would have a better turnout, but her friend Lauren Hamilton noted that more people were showing up throughout their stay at the event.\n"They did a good job of advertising, I will admit," she said.\nBradford Place Apartments Assistant Manager Jenna Tippin, who had two weeks to help plan the promotion, said she wasn't sure what results the event would yield. However, she said she was pleased with the turnout. \n"Everyone's just hanging out and having fun, and basically, that's all it's supposed to be," she said.\nTippin said she was able to get Yarbrough and Amerson's participation through their agent, who keeps in contact with a company she used to work with.\n"We do a lot of these," Amerson said of apartment promotions. \nIn some cases, he said he will tour up to 13 apartment complexes a month, mainly in college towns.\nIt was in this college town that Amerson had one of his more memorable experiences. His first time at IU, he went to a bar where a girl hit him for the first time.\n"This girl took my hat off my head, threw it on the ground and stomped on it," he said. "Then I think I called her a bitch, and she started to try and swing at me."\nAside from bars, Amerson said his promotional experiences are very interesting.\n"I love going to different places and meeting people I normally wouldn't hang out with because they're from here and not Georgia," he said, referring to his home state.\nHe said he's never been bothered by fans, but does end up being photographed a lot.\n"Everyone's just really, really nice," he said.\nAmerson, who sat on a couch for much of the time, appeared more laid back than his counterpart. Yarbrough, wore sunglasses despite the fluorescent light and stood talking with a group of girls.\nHamilton and Lang followed Amerson's approach to the activities and sat on the floor away from the fraternizing attendees.\n"I came here for the free food," Hamilton said, adding that she would probably get up to see what else the event had to offer.\nTippin said the promotion was a success for Bradford Place Apartments. \n"We're just trying to get our name out there," she said.