Fraternity/Sorority Life may be coming to my school!
 

Apparently, California State University, Northridge is on MTV's radar as the next school they may film Fraternity/Sorority Life. And guess what? They want to interview my fraternity TODAY!

Their executive producer and crew are going to be making a conference call interview today, where 3 other brothers, myself, and our faculty advisor will be fielding questions from them. I'm really nervous, and this is like super cool and silly for me.

I hope it'll go well!

I don't really post much but I do read the board a lot. I felt compelled to write to you. I can tell you that the consensus amongst the members here is that MTV's portrayal of Greek life is distorted and has damaged our image. I have experienced the effects of this on my campus. My sorority was also approached by MTV but we quickly turned it down.

If you're set on doing this, please take your time and think it over VERY carefully. There is a huge thread somewhere about this that you absolutely must read to get the full picture.

Of course. Everything must be fully considered before we can even think about moving forth with this whole idea.

I've been polling our members and the general consensus is that so far, the majority are for it and want to find out more about it. I'll do another search for the aforemented thread, thank you for the head's up.

I seem to recall the members of SAEPi on this board saying that it's not all it's cracked up to be. You might want to look at those threads.

:( This is just a reminder, anyone that is in the media can be twisted into what the director/producer wants to be shown. I am not saying anything is bad about MTV, but people see what they want to and the media just adds to that.

Just to reinforce what others have said, Julie from Real World - New Orleans spoke at my school a few days ago and she said that her life on the show was edited to make her look completely one dimensional. They focused on one aspect of her life and completely exploited it. She also made the point that MTV is shown around the world and the stereotype that foreigners have of American youth comes from programs such as Real World and Sorority Life.

If you feel that your fraternity is so flawless that it can only be shown in good light, then go for it. I doubt however (knowing human nature) that your fraternity has no moments of weakness

update: i emailed SAEPi when my group was getting emails from MTV. They finally emailed me back, i guess they were inundated with emails. I guess they had a pretty good recruitment. 15 or so girls. kudos to them. :D

Oh, hardly. I rather expect they will exploit us, however, the question is, in what way? I'm actually rather interested in them PAYING us to find out our weaknesses and bringing them to light so that we can FINALLY get out of a rut of being negative and intolerant of ourselves...

The phone interview went rather well -- my guys brought up the issue of communications access to the producer, which probably will kill our chances, but hey, you never know!

Mary had a little lamba! She and her family were hungry, so Mary led the lamb to slaughter so they could eat!
Da!

Remeber, MTV or anyother News Organization will never show Greek Life In a Good Note! It is not hot news when we as Greeks do good work. When something Bad happens, that is news!:(

totally agree here... even on their website they have links to news stories and basically said it wasn't all that great...

Well if they ask enough groups SOMEONE will bite. I don't think MTV will miss its deadline in the next show.

We have a Lambda Sigma Pi at my school...it's also a local, our chancellor is an alum...

I personally wouldn't do it, we're NPC so we'd never be asked, but I don't think it could do anything good for the chapter. I'd always wonder if people were rushing because they wanted to be on TV or they wanted to be in our house.

MTV did a very poor portrayal of Julie. She is from the same town I am, and they portrayed it so differently than it really is. They made us look like small town hicks who are so sheltered - we're 20 minutes from Milwaukee and are a smaller suburb...

Wow... it's like you haven't read anything people are telling you on this thread. Is it all about the money? I don't understand how MTV will bring you to the light, and make you more positive and tolerant of yourself. LMAO... How laughable is that? If anything they'll show the world all the negative things (maybe even distort good things) and leave you in the dust to deal with the ramifications.

If you already believe that your organization has problems, you don't need MTV to expose them. Have a meeting with your brothers and start from the inside. Don't let MTV expoit you. Or do you want the money and nice house that bad?

I hate to say this but I feel so sorry for you!!! I'm sorry for all Greeks.

Good luck.

Ouch! Tini, that stung!

Seriously, yes, I am listening to what everyone is saying -- and I understand that there are strong feelings against this whole idea of MTV making greek life out to be negative and sensationalistic. I can understand that people don't get the best of perspectives from the show, and probably wish this whole idea never happened.

But, so what? It's show business. No matter what, we'll never be shown in the way they want to be perceived unless it's dramatic, and we all know that normal, nice Greeks AREN'T DRAMATIC!

I'm open to the idea, and I welcome a challenge. Maybe it'll be more than I bargained for, but in the end, it's a chance of a lifetime and something new for all of my guys.

Whatever happens you'll probably survive it. It'll be interesting if nothing else.

If you do actually go through with it and are selected I wish you guys luck. I hope that it brings more good than bad.

No one here can really be sure what the outcome is. It certainly couldn't spell the end of the road for you..

I think for the most part many of us, not knowing you all are nervous about being portrayed in a certain light. You may not realize it but this isn't just portraying your chapter. It's fraternity life in general.

So all we ask of you is please don't screw things up too bad:D

Seriously though.. good luck.

eek.. be careful, you never know what may happen if MTV does decide to film you.. if you ever decide you want to try to go national, it might nolonger be an option.. good luck...

are they doing another sorority at your school?

What does Jamison say?

Mr. Jamison Keller, CSUN's Greek Advisor, has requested a meeting with me through email last week. I replied requesting his availability so we could jointly schedule an appointment ASAP.

Oddly enough, he hasn't set a date or time for the meeting, I was under the impression he was seriously concerned for us and wished to meet immediately.

Just out of curiousity, what should I expect Jamison to tell me? Yes, I have read what you all have told me in this thread, but since I'm not in the habit of reading advisor's minds on these sort of matters, what could I expect to have happen during a meeting with him about the MTV issue? Will he express his concerns about the school image if we do accept? Would he threaten to kick my organization off campus, pull our charter, that sort of thing?

I think the major thing that he could/would say to you guys is that, if you want to really do this then be prepared for whatever results it may bring. Positive and negative.
Are you guys prepared to somewhat if not completely have your lives interrupted with camera and sound crews following your every move? Prepared to have some sort of backlash from other greeks on your campus? Also, maybe even by other media and people in general? Plus a lot of other stuff to take into consideration. Are you guys gonna be able to handle it and stick it out if the you do this, and your numbers drop and recruitment sucks the following year. Are you gonna be able to handle it, if you get way more numbers then expected but don't know whether guys have come because of your recent fame or if they are truly genuine about joining?
Like someone said and not trying to dog you guys out or anything, but like someone said, if you're trying to see what problems your fraternity has, MTV may not be the solution to it. If anything it may turn bros./friends against each other (ex: Jordan and Amanda, but I think that would have happened sooner or later). Plus you seem to already know your chapter has issues (whose doesn't) so there's no need for MTV's help.
If you're looking for 30 mins of fame and fun a week, how about throwing a huge party and inviting the whole campus instead of MTV?
Yeah, its also nice that MTV is throwing around free furniture, housing and clothes, but you could have a fundraiser and get that stuff yourselves. Plus it could help to bring your chpater closer.
You wanna give your guys something new and exciting? After exams, midterms, whatever, get all the bros together, go on a kinda spontaneous trip someplace..it doesnt matter where, get all the sh!t that maybe going on out in the open, think..no,come up with ways to get your chapter going straight again, and say starting from that day this chapter/orgs. attitude starts fresh and NEW. And for the exciting part, end the trip with a stop at a strip club, take a few pics with Hooter girls and have some wings, and maybe toilet paper a house or two. Live it up with whatever you guys think is fun.:D :P ;)
Inotherwords, even though I wouldnt encourage it, and I am not saying you guys shouldnt think about it or flat out not do it, but there are plenty of other ways to make life exciting and/or deal with chapter issues besides bringing MTV in. :)
Who knows, you guys may have better luck if you get it. Highly doubt it though since, last week I read an article about the two orgs at UB doing it and they have had pledges drop and are starting to slowly regret their decisions with what MTV is doing with them. The shows havent even aired yet. Anywho, I am so not trying to ride a high horse but am saying be careful and give it some serious thought. It may be the chance of a lifetime and fun, but does/will your chapter think its worth it in the end? Wish ya the best of luck and whatever happens have fun and hope the issues work themselves out either way.

Here's the whole Buffalo News article.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial...30/1027855.asp

The thing that would turn me off on this before ANYTHING is that you can't have any TV or music in the house...I knew they did that with RW & RR but I didn't think Sorority Life did too.

This is interesting information. I wasn't aware of most of the restrictions regarding the filming (beyond the TV issue, because that makes sense). The questions I didn't see answered were what restrictions were placed on the fraternity house, or initiated members? I doubt MTV would be able to make the house off limits in the case of lighting or TV or even computer internet access.

According to the article they not only provided the pledge houses, they spiffed up the existing houses, which leads me to guess that the no TV/radio rules apply there as well. The original season had several scenes in the existing house so they would have had to alter it for camera placement. They did get to use computers but I would bet they had to use whatever ISP MTV has a promo deal with.

It says no one participating can play music while they are being filmed in their cars or wherever. So even if you don't live in the pledge house or regular house, if anything is filmed at your house, the TV and radio have to be off.

If you have any questions, I would drop the girls from Sigma AEPi an email.

Your advisor is probably going to warn you about the effects of what could possibly be caught on camera. MTV could take anything that you do or say completely out of context and something could appear like hazing which is not. I don't know how your pledging process is, but you are going to have to be careful no matter what if there are cameras following you through it.


You should really make sure that all your members agree before you sign anything.

I've been contemplating making whatever active motion we make to "accept" MTV's proposal be unanimous. At least in that way, we'll all be making a statement that we all agree to be in this together. Some members are arguing against me on this measure, but I guess that would tell me there are some people against it in the organization.

If MTV makes no TV a rule in the house, that should weaken the support for the movement that advocates getting filmed.

MUSIC will not be a problem.

I fully expect that Jamison will tell you that MTV will be barred from filming anywhere on University property. He will probably also tell you that your chapter may suffer consequences/punishment for anything that is filmed that violates University policy. That is what happened at Davis.

Yeah, that's a given. :) Actually, he'd probably put it in nicer terms, but yeah, that's the gist of what I expect to hear.

Have you contacted sigma aepi or any of the other two organizations that are filming now? You would probably want feedback from them before you decided to do this.