Special Sorority Edition of MTV "Cribs"
 

It appears that MTV is working on a sorority edition of cribs, featuring various sorority houses from across the country.

One house they are interested in, is the Delta Gamma House at Ole Miss. Below is a link to the article:
http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/dis.../3cbebb266313e

Here is a picture of Delta Gamma's house at Ole Miss:
http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/dg/index.html

Has anyone else heard about this? What other schools/chapters is MTV pursuing for this special edition of "Cribs?" and What are your thoughts?

People have mentioned in several posts about different shows interested in Greek Life, weighing their opinions regarding their chapter participiation, nationals views, etc. I would like to know what everyone thinks after reading the article.

Though, the Ole Miss chapter of Delta Gamma has not gotten final approval from their National Office, it appears they are very interested in participating. Let me also give you some background on this chapter... They are consistently in the top three (last semester #1) for grades, very active on the Ole Miss campus in all aspects (sports, government, classroom, in the community at Oxford, etc.) They are also what some on this board would call a very strong chapter and have been for many years at Ole Miss with close to 200 members.

Thats so cool!!! They seem to have a really outstanding chapter. I think it would be a positive thing for DG and greek life for MTV to do a cribs on sorority houses.

i think it sounds pretty cool too... it seems harmless and i would love to see how other chapters, especially in the south, decorate their houses :D

Most large sorority houses like this, from what I've heard, have very strict rules about non-sisters going places other than the common areas. Maybe MTV thinks they're going to get some inside peek at the bedrooms or such, but if they don't let the girls' own friends or family in there, they sure as heck won't let MTV in!! If they are doing it, I would rather they go someplace that has the rules firmly entrenched than the type of houses where people are freer to wander in and out. I doubt they are going to see much more than the photographic "house tours" that some groups have on their websites. I can't see it being a problem.

This one seems pretty benign.

Nice house. I would like to see the inside.

That's just what I was thinking...there are only a couple of houses here at Nebraska that allow boys (including fathers and brothers, unless it's move in day) above the first floor, let alone bedrooms. The only one that I know for sure that does here at UNL is Tri-Delt, although I think I've heard that AChiO may...

So while I'd be interested to see what the DG house looks like I wonder just how much we'd see. Still it's a cool idea.

I recall seeing an episode of MTV's "Becoming" where (correct me if I'm wrong) a Delta Gamma from University of California at Los Angeles was picked to "become" Britany Spears. Normally, the camera crew will barge into a bedroom at the crack of dawn and surprise the person picked by yelling "[John Doe], you're becoming [insert singer here]!!"

In that particular episode, the crew had to go to the sorority house 'cause that's where the girl lived. I recall that some of the sorority sisters went upstairs to get her. They surprised her as soon as she came down the stairs.

Also, I remember seeing an episode of "Trading Spaces" the home decorating show which featured the Delta Gamma's in San Jose (man those DG's get a lot of airtime!). In that episode, they only showed the living rooms and nothing else.

In both cases, camera crews did not go into bedrooms or chapter rooms or anything like that.

I think it would be neat to see a sorority version of Cribs. I'll keep an eye out for it!


......Kelly :)


[edited 'cause it's 1am and I can't spell straight!]

I'm a chapter advisor for my sorority, and we received notifciation on Monday from our international office in regards to this that said that none of our chapters were to do this. The letter also implied that MTV was having difficulty getting other chapters of NPC groups to participate as well.

Actually, the room at the main DG house in that Trading Spaces episode was indeed their Chapter room...(the one that Laurie was re-vamping)

:) RxyChrldr

Just to clarify, it was the Delta Gamma's at Santa Clara University, not at San Jose State, which is about 15 minutes down the road.

Microsoft Pictures
 

A couple months ago, a representative from Microsoft came to our house. They asked about photographing some rooms as a pre-screening for a commercial. W let them into our house and let them take some pictures. The guy seemed to want to find the more "extreme" rooms. He liked my room because we have the door covered in Olde English 800 labels. Our house is dry, so he only found a couple rooms interesting. But I didn't have pictures of naked women up. He also liked my brothers room who decided to turn a closet into a single. The bed is actually above the couch and there is no windows or anything besides those things. Its actually kinda funny. He is a senior and chose to do it.

The point of this: They will take advantage of the situation. MTV especially is getting worse and worse in respects to stupid things. I just recently watched a guy eat monkey food for like 10 bucks. However, if it is run how the "cribs" is run right now, it seems that it would be a great opportunity for us greeks. Sororities are usually very clean, nice, and well kept. Especially if its one of the best. Guys are pretty jealous of how nice their houses are. Ours is pretty nice but, doesn't even compare to a sorority. AXO's and Theta's are really nice houses here on campus. I'd have to say the nicest at the University of Washington. As for the fraternities, that would be an interesting crib show. I have to say ours is the cleanest, especially after tomorrow considering we have a maid coming to clean the house. We won her from a Pi beta Phi philanthopy. What a good prize. Beta's here are also pretty nice. Their house is pretty new though. I think 1995 or so. Our's is 1923. Its a little different.

I say go for it if they get permission from nationals. And I can't wait to see it on MTV.

My chapter is another one that was approached by MTV and our executive members voted No. I am a Chi Omega at the University of Oregon and our house is on the National Historic Registry as a certified mansion. It is a gorgeous home but MTV wanted permission to come inside our chapter room, where we do not even allow non-initiated members to go! I definitely agree with the postings about strict rules as to where nonmembers can go...boys are only allowed on the second and third floor of our house for a tour or if they are helping move something. And you must page before you bring them up. Although I think it would be cool to see a sorority edition of "Cribs" and it would have been neat to have our house featured, MTV would not have been allowed to show much. Our house would only have allowed them to see the downstairs, with our dining room, living room and co-ed study. But Im sure they would have tried to push it as far as they could go. http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~chiomega

Oh, sorry! It didn't look like a chapter room to me....looked like a living room. :) I guess I'm just used to seeing chapter rooms which look a lot different. :)


......Kelly :)

Notice that I said "Delta Gamma's in San Jose." I didn't say, "Delta Gamma's at San Jose State University." I know that the show was taped at Santa Clara U....but I didn't think the GCers in Kansas would know where Santa Clara is. :) I figured that San Jose would be a more recognizeable location. And, as you say, SJ is ony 15 minutes down the road.

For example, I live in Long Beach, CA - Long Beach is a city in it's own right. But, when I'm in Arkansas, I tell people that I'm from Los Angeles... it's just easier that way. :) Sorry if I offended the residents of Santa Clara. ;)

......Kelly :)

I noticed MTV had this note up on their casting call page:

Is Your Sorority
'Cribs'-Worthy?

Are you in a sorority? What makes your sorority cooler than the rest? Tell us all about your sorority home, and why you think MTV CRIBS should show your crib on tv, and you may find you and your sisters on MTV!
Please email: sorority.cribs@mtvstaff.com
please note new address

Has anyone heard about them doing a "real life I'm in a sorority special ??" on MTV... I know they've done a TON of them.. like real like I'm a cheerleader... and all of those.. and I heard on the radio the other day they were taping it at UC Davis.... but I BELIEVE that it's a local soror... which makes sense because I don't believe any of the NPCs would allow cameras to follow around their sisters... but if it is local.. i can't help but worry that it could show some of the bad side or soror life. I am in no way trying to be offensive to anyone in a local.. but at least at my school they are subject to less rules and disclipline for breaking the rules than are nationals... therefor they can do whatever they want on that show. I know they usually try to be fair on the real life documentaries however... showing both sides.. but I can't help but worry.. any thoughts and have any of you heard that they are doing this along with the whole soror cribs show as well ??

Glitter, check out these threads...

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=17280

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...=alpha+epsilon

just a reminder
 

Even though this has already been discussed in this thread...the majority of NPC orgs...if not all do not allow their members to be interviewed or anything like it without national headquarter's permission. I know with Phi Mu, if we are ever approached by any sort of reporter/interviewer/show etc, we cannot speak about Phi Mu unless it has been prearranged, and/or permission was granted by Nationals. I am sure this is the case with other organizations. MTV will have a very hard time pulling off MTV Cribs Sorority Edition. NPC and all 26 orgs are very aware that the media tries very hard to show through the media that greek life is negative. While MTV's intention is positive, I doubt they will be able to pull it off.

Re: just a reminder
 

You are sooo right...I just got an email from IO reminding all chapter presidents that we have to get permission from IO to do anything like this and how we will not get it for this Sorority Edition of Cribs.

also
 

sidenote:

I e-mailed the address for the casting call reponses and let MTV know about getting permission etc. I used my name but not my organization. Perhaps it will help them out. I suggested they contact NPC directly first.

I think it could be done tastefully but MTV has become very Springer-like lately and I would hate for them to take advantage of the property and try to go undercover and go into rooms that are not allowed.

It could be great PR or really bad PR. It would have to be very tight and I don't think they should allow shots of the bedroom and/or chapter-ritual rooms. They should be treated like everyone else.

I am more worried about the MTV Sorority Life show!

I'm confused. Someone said here that you don't let people in your chapter room? So when you do house tours, like say at recruitment, do you not allow women into the chapter room? I just find that odd, because it's like a show piece of our house, with all of the composites and other such stuff...it's full of our history and story, and we love to show it off when we aren't doing ritual.

I just had a thought...what about campuses/chapters that have unofficial houses? I know the members would still have to get clearance from their HQs to talk about their GLO on camera, but they wouldn't have to clear it with a house corp. Then again, I'm sure unofficial houses are not as glamourous as MTV has in mind.

shadokat, I know what you are thinking and I think our chapter rooms and the chapter rooms some of the women are talking about are 2 different animals. When y'all describe a chapter room, I'm picturing a large open space with not much furniture exclusively for performing rituals and meetings - am I right?

Our "chapter room" was simply the largest room in the house where we gathered (basically, our living room). We only used it for special things like big/little & our retreat before initiation. It was not large enough for business meetings, we had those in classrooms. That segues into the "unofficial" house question - I don't think MTV could have fit all their cameras into our house.

When I was pursuing alumnae affiliation with this one sorority last year ("sorority #1" for those in the know), I had the opportunity to see their chapter room.

First off, there was definitely a difference between the various rooms in their house. They had a nice but relatively informal living room where they gathered a lot for stuff such as COB, socials etc. Then, there was a formal living room that had a piano, nice furniture, and composites. It was very nice and I imagine that it was only used for special occasions. Plus it wasn't that big.

Then there was the room that they specifically called the "chapter room." It was actually a garage which had been converted. It was big and had very little furniture. Their charter was on display as was: a map off all the chapters in the US and Canada, the display board they use at recruitment tables, scrapbooks, big/lil pillows and a shelving unit used for sorting mail. It was actually rather spartan. There were some folding chairs stacked against the wall, leading me to believe that meetings and such were held in there. I noticed that there was a big wooden frame painted in white which spelled out the letters. On it were places for candles. I imagine that it is used for a pref or initiation ceremony.

Now, they took me on a personal tour through there so I was indeed shown first hand. They also had the door wide open during a fraternity social I attended. At one point during the social, the informal living room got too crowded and the President tried to get a bunch of us to go into the chapter room to chat. So apparently it wasn't a big secret. :)

I guess what it boils down to is whether or not the national office and/or the chapter consider the chapter room to be sacred territory. Like most things, it varies from place to place. Where I was, they considered it to be OK for others to see it. That's why I was confused when some other people posted that a chapter being on a TV show is ok "...as long as cameras don't go into the chapter rooms".

......Kelly :)

Fraternities vs. Sororities
 

I agree with the idea that certain people do certain things. Fraternities have diferent levels of secretivness. D Chi's here have parties in their chapter room. Fiji's here are very secretive (like everywhere else) but their chapter room is a big room shaped like a star under their front yard. I only know this because when it snows (almost never) there is a big shape of a perfect star which has melted because of the heat in the room. Plus some SAE's who had broke in and took a couple souvenirs told me about it. Our's however has a secret entrance. We don't reveal where it is to associates until their initiation. We won't even let a plumber go in there who is not a Theta Xi. All I'm saying is some Fraternities and sororities probably have different levels of secretivness. As for MTV Cribs, Noone will probably be allowed to, but if they do, great. Sororities have nothing really to hide. They are great places. I personally wish I lived in one.;)

Hearing about other chapter rooms is kinda cool. Anybody got any other cool stories about chapter rooms? I still think ours is the best though. i could be biased though.

33girl--

No, our chapter room was specifically for rituals and displaying history. There was no furniture in the room at all, except for our table. On the walls hung all of our composites, paddles (not used for hitting anyone...just have the names of the new member classes on them), our charter, and awards we have won. We also have 2 living rooms as common areas.

I think I agree with a lot of people in that it's not so much about them not going where they aren't allowed to go (I assume that if MTV is going into someone's home and they say "No, you are not allowed here", they have to comply, esp when it's a chapter house) but more making sororities look bad. MTV has been known to make fun of greek life and be very negative when it comes to being greek. I just hope they don't cut it to make the girls look dumb or bad in any way

I go to SCU and I went into the DG house (which, btw, they don't live in anymore, they moved out this summer into a HUGE house) for composites. The reason their chapter room looks like a living room is because it IS a living room---it's right off the main hallway. They must not have a rule about non-initiates going in, b/c that was where we all took our composities, right there in that room. I don't know what they'll use for a chapter room in the new house, though.

I knew MTV was going to do this but I thought they'd already filmed it--the DG's have been talking about it for 2 years. After the way MTV has made sororities look I'm not sure if I'd want to do it. But it is cool that they will be on our campus. Honestly though if I were going to do a house at Ole Miss it would probably not be the DH house. All of the houses are beautiful, but the TRI-DELT house would probably be the one I'd pick to show on Cribs. It's the biggest house...they just added on too.

just an fyi - this thread started in 2002! :D