Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton can influence the latest fashion trends, determine which nightclub is the new "hot spot" and turn rehab into a vacation resort, but their political opinions are a little less influential.
Celebrities have been known for publicly voicing their opinion about their choice for the presidential elections and have even helped fund campaigns.
Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Jamie Foxx, Bette Midler and Ben Stiller are just some of the celebrities that have recently funded candidate's campaigns, according to Hollywood gossip blog www.perezhilton.com.
Despite the pop culture influence of these celebrities, C. Michael Elavsky, a College of Communications professor who teaches COMM 197B (Media and Democracy), said the impacts these people have on students' political opinions seem to be almost nonexistent.
"I think it makes students aware who is connected to who, but I am skeptical on the actual impact these celebrities have," he said.
Michael Albanese (senior-public relations) voiced a similar opinion, saying he isn't swayed by a big showbiz name if he doesn't think they know what they're talking about.
"If someone that I don't think is knowledgeable comes out, like Paris Hilton, and says something I am not going to follow her opinion," Albanese said.
James Rossi (freshman-premedicine) didn't put much stock in celebrity endorsements.
"I don't think they have an impact really; it is just someone's opinion," he said.
Elavsky said celebrity support shows an association between the celebrity and candidate, but doesn't offer any useful information.
"All it does is it puts it on the student's radar for those who are interested in all the celebrities," Elavsky said. "I think students are more excited as to seeing the candidates as pop stars and rock stars due to the way they are being portrayed in the media, like Obama," who has been on Oprah, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and even made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Katrina James (freshman-human development and family studies) said celebrities seem "full of it."
"They don't seem reliable," James said, adding that students' openness to celebrity political views "also depends on how much you know about the election already."
Elavsky said he was impressed with his students' knowledge of the presidential candidates, but on the other hand, feels Penn State as a whole is not as informed as it should be.
"Most students have their daily life, and politics are not typically a part of it," Elavsky said.
The Internet has become an extremely popular method for students to gain information about the upcoming election, Elavsky said.
"Facebook really plays a role in how they get their information and by speaking to friends that are interested in what is going on," he said.
Albanese agreed, saying the Internet is his main source for news.
"I go on Yahoo! News and CNN.com," Albanese said. "I always turn off that stuff they show on MTV about the election."
Programs directed toward the college-age group, like MTV's Rock The Vote, have become less popular among students, Elavsky said.
"Perhaps MTV had more of an impact when they had something besides reality TV," he said. "With mass media, it is easy to be aware of what's going on, but at the same time it's even easier for students to disregard it."
