Ashley Latham
Reporter

The “other side” of college is now being portrayed in a series non-school related web videos featuring campus views, alcohol, marijuana and scantily-clad girls.
I’m Shmacked and College Culture videos are centered around major collegiate events like football games and holidays such as Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day in which students are seen gulping shots, playing beer pong, launching into keg stands and smoking marijuana.
“Most people don’t drink in excess, but that’s what people want to see,” senior Stephanie Gee, who recently committed to University of California, Los Angeles, said. “I’ve only seen the UCLA one, but I don’t feel it is a proper representation of the en- tire student body — it is only a small representation of the people that actually go there.”
The videos begin with a college-age looking couple wearing gear representing the university they are introducing, and then immediately cuts to students drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, often wearing T-shirts and other apparel with their schools’ logos. UCLA, University of West Virginia, University of Oregon and Pennsylvania State University are among the large universities featured on both the I’m Shmacked and College Culture websites.
“Of course I’ve seen the College Culture video for the University of Oregon,” Cassidy Lewallen, who has enrolled at Oregon next year, said. “Although it provided insight to what part of the social life at Oregon is like, it did not affect my decision to go there.”
Every I’m Shmacked video carries a disclaimer stating no real alcohol or drugs were used while filming, yet students from Louisiana State University are seen holding up minor in pos- session citations (MIP), which are a misdemeanor crime, while yelling profanities about the police.
“As a junior I’ve started the college process — and yes I’ve watched I’m Shmacked,” Elio Casinelli, who attends Stuart Hall High School, said. “Although I get a different view of the school, the colleges that make my list are in no way affected by my viewing of the videos.”
None of the universities who were contacted for comment on the videos chose to respond to phone calls and emails. Although students interviewed said they did not solely base their college choices and decisions from I’m Shmacked and College Culture, the videos do have an effect on potential applicant’s view of the school.
“I would not encourage students to watch I’m Shmacked or College Culture as a form of research,” college counselor Lauren Blears said. “I believe that there are other third party resources that students can use to view student life.”
Students seem to be taking Blears’ advice. “I did look to the videos as a form of research in combination with visiting and doing extra research,” De Anda said. “After getting into Penn State, I watched the I’m Shmacked and it actually scared me.

I chose Penn State because I am really interested in their architecture program. My choice was based on academics not the social life.”