The Spur

Issue date: 11/30/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Jaclyn Prososki Landon Lueck signs autographs after his speech in the Student Center on Nov. 16. Lueck, known for his partying on MTV's "The Real World" while he was a cast member in Philadelphia, now

MTV's poster boy for partying now makes his living speaking about alcohol awareness.

"I'm not going to say that alcohol is all bad because I have had a lot of fun with it," Landon said. "Just try to know what your level is."

Landon, a reality star from MTV's the "Real World Philadelphia," shared his message of moderation to a full conference room at Southwest Minnesota State University on Nov. 16. Students, mostly female fans of the show, listened to Landon share stories of how alcohol has negatively affected his life, and later divulge secrets of the popular MTV show and Landon's cast mates.

Landon said he faced many consequences of alcohol abuse before he was on the show. Landon received a DUI, and dealt with a former girlfriend who was raped by a group of men who had been abusing alcohol.

Landon's problems with alcohol came into the limelight when he was cast in a show known for its stars' partying. After many nights of drinking on the show, including an instance in which an inebriated Landon threatened cast members and carried around a knife in his back pocket, the world labeled Landon as an alcoholic.

Although Landon, a former student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, said the show portrayed him fairly, he has trouble with this label, but he said heavy drinking is a part of the Midwestern culture.

"It is hard for me to be labeled as an alcoholic because [at home] so many of my friends [drank heavily] too," Landon said. "When people label me, I say, first of all, take a look at yourself."

Although Landon said he hopes people take something from his speech, he said he realizes many people come to hear him talk about life in the "Real World"- and the talk he did in a question and answer session after his speech.

Landon said his first couple of nights on the show were very hectic.

"It was such a blur. I woke up the first day and just thought 'Oh my God.' Everyone was always talking. Everyone had their two cents to put in," Landon said.

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