MTV star brings reality to ACC

Ruthie Alcaide, from MTV's 1999 "Real World Hawaii," will be at ACC's Riverside Campus on March 26 to discuss alcohol awareness. Alcaide entered rehab during the course of the show and learned firsthand the dangers of binge drinking.

Alcaide attended frat parties under the age of 21 because she knew she could drink there and not in bars. She played drinking games and drank to excess.

On the "Real World," Alcaide acted like she normally did in real life. She was surprised to learn others thought she had a drinking problem. Alcaide learned in rehab that she was binge drinking.

"I wasn't properly educated about binge drinking," Alcaide said. "I did not know what it was then. I hung out with the frat crowd and we'd literally try to drink each other under the table. I thought it was normal. I didn't know any better."

She was educated and now tours colleges and universities to educate others about alcohol awareness. She also speaks about diversity, sexuality, racism, and college life.

"I've been doing this for seven years," Alcaide said. "When I first started touring, a lot of college kids didn't know what binge drinking was, but now when I ask, more raise their hands. Alcohol education has changed since then and that's the reason more students know about binge drinking."

She spoke of how she affected other people with the "Real World" experience. Fans still come up to her to this day to say how long they've been sober after learning from her experience. Alcaide feels very fortunate she didn't hurt anyone while drinking and driving on the show.

"I could have thrown everything in my life away by drinking and driving," Alcaide said. "I could have hurt someone. I'm glad I didn't."

According to the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, college students from the ages of 18 to 24 account for 1,700 deaths a year, almost 600,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault.

"If I use examples they'll understand," she said, "maybe they'll become more aware of why they drink and how they drink."

Alcaide hopes college students will become more aware of the dangers of alcoholism and see if and how they use alcohol as a crutch. She realizes some people want to see her because of the MTV show, but that's OK with her. She just hopes one or two students come away with some knowledge and to use it to their advantage.

She describes herself as comfortable in her own skin, older, changing, and having done some growing up since "The Real World."

'I'm enjoying life," she said. "I'm lucky to be able to educate and to have fun while doing it."