The Pacer

Issue date: 1/23/07 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Walter Harris MTV reality series stars Syrus Yarbrough and Randy Barry, both from "The Real World" come to Martin Thursday to promote the Martin Place apartments.

Two stars from MTV's "Real World" reality TV series will be in Martin on Thursday as part of an eight-property tour promoting a local student-targeted apartment complex.

Syrus Yarbrough, from the 1997 series in Boston, and Randy Barry, from the 2004 series shot in San Diego, will mingle with UTM students from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Martin Place club house.

Last week, the reality stars were the focus of meet-and-greet events at Knoxville, Chattanooga and Bloomington, Ind. apartments owned by the Atlanta-based Place Properties, LP, and the two will stop at Murray Place in nearby Murray, Ky., Wednesday before coming to Martin on Thursday.

In Martin, the two will mingle informally with current Martin Place residents and potential lessees over free pizza and drinks.

Additionally, the property will conduct a contest to give away three free, all-inclusive spring break vacations, along with other door prizes, from events at the company's 40 properties.

Martin Place Property Manager Kim Parker said the intent of Yarbrough and Barry's visit is primarily to encourage residents to renew their leases, but also to attract new residents.

"I hope (the event) lives up to the hype," she said. "I think we'll have a great turnout and get renewals."

Additionally, the high-profile visitors could benefit more than Martin Place and could extend out to the city and university, Parker said.

"I think (high-profile visits) are something Martin needs to do more often. We have residents move in and say, 'I thought Martin was different, with more things to do.' Then they try to get out of their contract with us and transfer to another school."

Parker added she hopes 50 percent of current residents will renew their leases at the event, and that other students would become interested in Martin Place. She said Place Properties is also offering a discount on renewals.

Jenna Tippin, marketing specialist for Place Properties, cultivated her relationship with MTV standouts over the past few years, when she worked for Bradford Place in Bloomington, Ind. Recently, Place Properties bought Bradford Place as part of a multi-property deal, and Tippin began marketing work for Place Properties.

"The event is basically a meet-and-greet, and we started looking at cast members from TV shows as a way of attracting college students," Tippin said.

She said after this month's eight-property tour, the stars will visit about 25 more properties in April.

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