Six University students 'Break' for MTV program during vacation

Spring break in Panama City this year meant big parties and tons of fun for many students, but for six University students in particular, it meant MTV camera crews as well.

About a month ago, MTV visited 10 schools in order to audition students for regular shows such as "The Grind" and "12 Angry Viewers," as well as spring break specials such as "Spring Break Undercover."

This show's premise is along the lines of "The Real World," except instead of living in an apartment under the watchful eye of MTV's cameras, participants were taped while on their vacations.

"After the first day, we got used to the cameras and it felt natural," said Eric Franchi (senior-marketing). "It was a lot of going out and hanging out."

Combining more than 30 hours of footage, the show will premiere tomorrow at 11 a.m. and air again at 4 p.m.

The group does not know for sure which parts of their vacation will make it onto the show.

"We were told it would show a little bit of everything we did," said Debbie Staub (senior-administrative justice). "The weather wasn't that good, but we were always busy."

On their first day in Panama City, the group of three men and three women rode an inflatable banana boat pulled by a jet ski. Then they took a helicopter ride over Panama City.

The next day they had a Hot Body and Bikini Contest on the beach.

One woman in the groupwound up winning the bikini contest.

"This was my last spring break, so it was nice to spend it with my friends and do something that others didn't -- be on MTV!" said Nancy Nicolin (senior-communication disorders).

The students also rode on a party boat with 40 of their friends onboard, frequented many clubs and apartment parties and bought bellybutton piercings for the women. They also found time to play a game of Truth or Dare.

Among the dares the group had to perform were kissing a total stranger and getting a condom from another stranger.

Of the hundreds of students who auditioned for MTV, this group made it because of their diversity and chemistry, Franchi said.

"We are different ethnically, but we're all very outgoing and a lot fun," Franchi said. "And we're all good-looking."