Ivy League: Cold! Appalachian State: Hot, Hot, Hot!
If Paris Hilton watches the video, she may be convinced to enroll at Appalachian State.
There's a video floating around on the Internet that some Web slingers are claiming is a recruitment video for Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. I won't say it's the worst video I've ever seen, but it's pretty bad. Watching it might make you want to buy a used car, but not attend an institute of higher education.
But was it really made as a recruitment tool?
"We would never create something like that to attract students," says Dr. Lorin Baumhover Chief of Staff for the Office of the Chancellor at Appalachian State. "It's horrible." Baumhover maintains the video was created as a kind of joke, to be shared with alumni and friends of the university. He says about a year ago, someone posted it on the Web, and they've been getting queries ever since. "I wish someone could put a stake through it," says Baumhover.
It's a lesson for the Internet age. Don't create anything you aren't prepared to share with the entire world.
(via Boing Boing)
Appalachian State: Joke
So, this thing was made as a joke, a bit of intentional humor, and not as a serious video. OK, fine. But, then, just what sort of humor is it? If this is a typical AU in-joke, then I think I'm glad to be an outsider.
Appalachian State: Cover Up Double
It's one mistake to make such a bad video, another to cover it up. Of course it's real. I've been writing for clients like Appalachian State for years, and this is precisely the kind of sickening stuff produced by groupthink -- committees of administrators who know nothing about marketing, or their market. Too bad these folks have to take it on the chin, but somebody has to. It happens all the time.
ASU Hot Hot: Tuition Funds
I don't believe the university. For a supposed gag reel, it was pretty straight forward and on message. I can't imagine the screening at a university get-together would get anything but praise.
CREATOR OF GAG REEL: Wasn't that HILARIOUS!??
DEAN OF STUDENTS: Uhhh...no. It actually was a pretty decent message for the school.
CREATOR: Yeah, but the pictures of the students and the alumni. They were a riot!
DEAN: Um, they showed everything that happens at the school... is that funny? You're fired.
Also, it seems like an awful lot of work was put into a "gag reel." Kind of makes you wonder if ASUs no doubt costly tuition funds are being spent as wisely as they could be.
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