On Tuesday, MSU's campus was the backdrop for a Sundance Channel series featuring the life of an MSU student.

T.J. Jourian, a student affairs administration graduate student, participated in "TransGeneration," a documentary series which followed four transgender college students in the process of undergoing gender reassignment.

Jourian and the three other students were chosen from hundreds of applicants to appear in the series. The students were filmed at different times during one academic year.

"I was definitely excited, but I also had my reservations," he said.

Laura Michalchyshyn, executive vice president of programming and marketing for the Sundance Channel, said the channel was interested in the project because of the social implications it could have.

"It's not just a passing issue, but an important and relevant one when it comes to emerging students who are in transition," she said. "I hope viewers have a better understanding and feel compassion toward these brave students."

Although Jourian is pre-operative for gender reassignment surgery, he did not receive preparatory treatment such as hormone therapy during filming, unlike the other three students who were at different stages of the procedure.

The four students met in June during a screening at San Francisco Pride - an event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lifestyles - and Jourian said they bonded.

"That was an interesting part for me. We definitely clicked," he said. "They are all fantastic, amazing people, but at the same time we are all different in terms of personalities and maybe wouldn't have gotten to know each other on a campus."

During the year, Jourian said he often would forget he was being filmed by the director, Jeremy Simmons, during class, student organization meetings or at drag shows. Although the presence of a camera crew raised some eyebrows, Jourian said he was never asked why they were on campus.

The series is part of the Sundance Channel's key programming for the fall season and has been promoted on network channels such as NBC and MTV, Michalchyshyn said.

Social relations senior Jordan Furrow participated in the documentary with Jourian when they would film him among friends, and said the experience was exciting.

"We thought we were part of something great," he said. "Having them around was a little tiring, and knowing that any part of your life that could be broadcast was a little stressful."

Jourian said he hasn't seen the entire series, but has seen the version used for film screenings 10 times, and plans to view each part when it airs.