MTV did it again!
 

I just found out that MTV is doing another Sorority Life!!! I saw the preview of it and it doesn't look good!!! I don 't know if your Chapters were affected by it but i know my school was. I think that was the first question in the Rush rooms was How werewr we different then Sorority life girls! The sorority is Delta Xi Omega. And then they are doing a Fraternity life too Which doesn't look too good neither!

Just thought you would like to know

Although I know many Greeks are going to watch MTVs twisted portrayals of fraternity and sorority life since the first Sorority Life was such a success to MTV, I just want to re-itierate (sp?) that the reason why MTV is airing another Greek reality series because so many watched in the first place! I myself am a victim to the MTV gods- if you can call them that- and watched the show just to see how terrible they portrayed Greek life. So for those of you who were appalled by the original Sorority Life, just don't watch! The less ratings MTV gets, and the more complaints, the less likely it is that they will air a third series.

Again, this is just my opinion on the matter. I know a lot of people are going to watch and criticize the shows because of their sometimes-twisted portrayal of Greek life, and that's fine, but that's just what MTV wants us to do. MTV has been loved and hated for years for the things it's shown, and it hasn't died yet. Showing a series that so many people hate is just a way to get higher ratings, more viewers, and more money. Then again, many people can't bring themselves to watch MTV hardly at all, considering only about 1/8 of the content on MTV is MUSIC! :rolleyes:

and even if with the show they never portray the life of a member of a international or national GLO they always do this work with locals how can MTV or the real community expect this to be real maybe one day they can do a big GLO but I doubt any of us would let them

I totally agree! And they have to create these groups from scratch!
These are either tiny locals who need the money or they are completely fabricated by MTV because no NPC or IFC group will allow one of their chapters to participate.
It is discouraging to hear that you had to answer those questions at all, and it makes you wonder if these folks have all their light bulbs switched on. Sorry. :(

I noticed something today when I saw the commercial for "Fraternity Life." The dude with the pipe says something like "And the ladies love Sigma Chi men." If that really is their nickname (I know Sigma Chi Omega is their actual name) couldn't the real Sigma Chis go after them?

I heard that too on MTV. I was brushing my teeth and hear Sigma Chi and i was like what the H*ll. I know that many groups have nicknames and some are the same as other groups that arn't are the campus. Like Phi Sigma Sigma and Phi Sigma Kappa are normally called the same thing on different universities --Phi Sig. Just an example. But to have your Organization's name used on TV for something like Fraternity live would greatly upset me! Oh well, that another two cents of mine. Now i have to start working or paper work for next semester! Gotta love being on E-board:)

ehem, pardon me
 

It appears that you guys who dissapprove of MTV greek shows are choosing to take your vengence out on local orgs instead of just MTV. I don't know if MTV has fabricated these groups, or how serious these orgs are, etc., but I do know that there are locals out there who deserve credit. Every national started out just the same way, as small groups a long time ago who have chartered numerous chapters of themselves, and alot of the locals around will in turn become national orgs of their own to exist on multiple campuses in the future (if greek life lasts that long!).
I personally am part of a local sorority here in so cal, and there are only local orgs on my campus, founded from 1909 down to around 1931. There are a total of 11 orgs on campus, and all of us work hard to maintain traditions, have alum connections, working hard to be part of respectable orgs and create the best greek experience possible. I know if our campus was given the chance to go national (not only would it not happen since the board of trustees are nearly all local greek alum) but the orgs would say no. Alot of us don't want to change into something else just to have fraternal bonds on other campuses. We believe, and have pride in our near 100-yr old traditions, and would not change them to go national.
I understand that alot of people in nationals don't understand a lot of the realities of local orgs, hell, I wouldn't if I hadn't joined on myself! Just so you know, we are not all 2-year old, struggling, "fake", or "wannabe" orgs. Alot of us have strong traditions, ritual, sisterhood/brotherhood, that have been around for centuries.

that's all! blame MTV, not the locals!!!

Sorority life....I think not
 

I am glad to see that other people are feeling the same way about the shows on MTV as I am. The first time that I watched the show, I was angered. I was interested to watch it at first. The group and the show do not portray an accuracte dipiction of what sorority life is like. I think that these shows will have a very negative effect on recruitment. All I know is that we didn't have a fancy pledge house and the rules that these girls have. The current show is making sororities look rich, snobby, and like dictatorships. The previews that I saw for the new show makes us all look like drunken idiots. As boring as it would be, they should try to incorporate some of the good things that the greek organizations do, instead of the bad.

Re: ehem, pardon me
 

A little perspective for fairly new members/posters.

There were numerous and very long threads about this show last year. A number of us who work in TV sounded warnings about MTV's "documentary" style and production techniques.

Some members of last years (victims?) participating sorority defended their reasons before the series aired. Some of them told horror stories afterward of "creative" editing and manipulative behavior on MTV's part. To be fair, a few felt that, despite all of the problems, there may have been some value in the experience.

In the end, all national fraternities and sororities made rules forbidding their local chapters from participation.

MTV, thus, had no choice but to find (unwitting? -- hard to believe given the hue and cry from last year's series) local(s) to "document."

I think that's the reason for mention of locals -- not a matter of blame.

It might be instructional for some of the newer members to search out some of those old threads.

Re: Re: ehem, pardon me
 

Couldn't have said it better myself, DeltAlum.

Sidebar: I think the blame is definitely on the local sororities. MTV is big business...don't expect too much "morality" to come from them since the dollar speaks louder than disgruntled and pissed off Greeks do.

Blame the local sororities that are "dumb" enough to participate in this stupid show (that I enjoy watching because it's funny ;)).

Thank you AlphaXiDiva. We had enough of the local bashing last time around - if I want reruns, I'll turn on Nick at Nite. The groups are not "fabricated" for MTV - the sorority has been around since 1988, the fraternity since 1999. Besides, UB would not open themselves up to the consequences of including a fake group on their Greek life site.

And I will reiterate what I said last time around when some members of national groups got on their high horses. If the HQ's weren't forbidding it, there would be chapters of national groups who would be lining up to participate in this. Let's not kid ourselves.

I don't think the groups made a good choice to do this - far from it - but criticize their choice, not their local status.

This is about all locals...
 

I don't think that the National members are on their high horses at all. The group on the previous MTV show gave all other Greek organizations a bad image. MTV did not issue a statement saying that this is not a normal situation. MTV paid for the pledge house. The only thing that MTV shows is the pledges getting into trouble for being out passed eleven and having boys in the house. I am not saying that this is all the local's fault, but anyone that has ever watched the Real World knows that you never see anything but the fights and bad things. Being in sorority is more than what they show. I happen to catch an episode today and one of the girls was practically in tears over the ideas of initiating some of the girls. What was portrayed on that show gave all Greek Organizations a bad name. The girls in the Sigma house should have thought about more than money when they were agreeing to do this. Speaking on behalf of my chapter, we would have not let MTV come into our house and film anything if it were permissable. My fiance is a Delta Tau Delta. From what I know of the guys, I don't believe that they would have either. Somethings are suppused to stay between sisters and brothers.

Where I come from AOT means something.

Correction
 

My subject was supposed to say, "This isn't about all locals..."
My apologies.

Re: This is about all locals...
 

I am going to channel DeltAlum on this one...

Greeks have been getting in the news for a while for doing lots of cruddy things. If we were blameless, a little ole show on MTV wouldn't even make a dent. This show has not done it all in terms of negative publicity.

When "Remote Control" was on, Greeks were often featured in very positive ways. That was a different era when being Greek was looked on more positively. Now the general outlook on GLO's has changed, and MTV has decided to edit the show in that way. They did not create the wave, they are merely riding it.

I am not intimating that anyone on this site would approve of their group appearing on MTV - just saying that bashing these groups simply because they're local is wrong.

First off, I want to make clear i did not meant to bash Local Greeks!! AlphaXiDiva, I'm sorry if you feel that way! I am Just upset that MTV did another Sorority Life. And Now a fraternity Life too! Sorority Life added to the greek Fire on my campus. (where greeks are normally Hated) Greeks ( including Locals) have been working for YEars to Change the Animal house image of greeks, but i feel that sorority life just brings us Back a step with each season. Any Greek needs to really think about why they would do sorority/fraternity Life! I don't think peopel who watch the show really realize that this stuff happens to all college student, not just greeks. I have more friends who are nto Greek who act like the pledges in the house then any of the sorority women i know. BUt that is besides the point. I dont' think a show like this could Ever show what is it like to be in a sorority. I'm ramblingnow, i'm sorry.

greek love binks

P.S.-- i would be pissed even if it was a national sorority or fraternity.

sadly....
 

if the previews show anything...and we take that with a grain of salt.
sadly, it looks like things are back in the excessive party mode...which went a long way to mess up sorority life 1.
how sad....and how predictable.
my hearts for them.
:(

I agree..
 

Many Greeks fight a great deal of stereotypes. The point of my argument is whether they are National or Local, who knows that. I wouldn't have known that if I were not greek. These shows are hurting everyone. The Sigma's may be the nicest girls in the world, but to be brutually honest, they make sorority girls look like snobby bitches. This is one of the biggest stereotypes that all greek women have been trying to overcome. In that episode I caught today, one of the girls commented on having to pay to hang out with these girls or something similiar. That is another problem for Greeks; that we are paying for our friends. No one is blaming Locals as a whole, or at least I'm not. I am blaming these groups that had no more sense than to put themselves out there to be subjected to the "creative editing" of MTV. Now we as Greeks have even more to overcome.

I can say that I know that many greek organizations are facing declining numbers. This show is not helping our cause. If I were an upcoming college freshman, watching this show, I would not want to pledge. For someone that knows nothing about Nationals, Locals, greek life as a whole, and college life this is true life to them.

These shows are hurting an already struggling Greek life.

i agree that we should not bash the locals for making their decisions.

however, i cannot help but wonder why these locals decided to go ahead and do the show. after the last season finished, the Sigma's (from what I remember) had some kind of posting on their website saying how they did not realize how MTV would edit the show in such a way to make the inaccurate protrayal. Please correct me if i'm wrong, but I just vaguely remember it.

If that was all true, why would another 2 groups allow themselved to be subject to the same negative documentary-like filming?

Vaguely remember? Their entire opinion is posted right here on their site. In short, it states exactly what you say.

http://www.sigmaaepi.com/html/ca100302.html

I wish people would just say, ‘yeah, maybe they didn’t make the best decision, but it’s not my business to go out of my way to hurt these people,’” Leslie said. “I’ve been out, and people have thrown things at me.”

thanks for the link archangel! that is exactly what i remembered reading.

MTV and sorority/fraternity member portrayals
 

Okay everyone who is bashing MTV and their portrayal of how it shows all the negative of Greek Life in their shows Sorority Life and Fraternity. It seems like a lot of people are bashing the locals because they have chosen to do the show while all the NPC groups have been banned by their Headquarters that they can't participate.
Personally I think the members do need their heads examined for agreeing to do it, yet think about the things that MTV is giving them. Admit it....don't we all have a bit of greediness and wanting to be on TV so that when we're offered the opportunity to get money, be on TV, receive all types of free products from various companies etc wouldn't you be slightly tempted to do it. Plus their house is being fixed up because you know MTV doesn't even want to show the actually house itself being in bad shape compared to the "Pledge House".
Also, what if you're a local wanting to try to expand and become national without having to merge into an existing National - what better way to get your name out. Didn't the Sigmas install a new chapter at SDSU and they've even admitted they've had other women across the country contact them since the program has aired about bring Sigma to new campuses rapid expansion in a short time without a lot of hard work trying to expand (wouldn't we all love that)
One more thing about bashing the locals who have agreed to do Sorority Life. A lot of people are bashing them and yet these same people turn around and proudly claim "such and such" on Real World, Road Rules, etc is a proud member of XYZ. Or we also see greekchatters saying they want to send in tapes trying to get on these shows. In my opinion these shows portray just as negative a stereotype of college students and late teens/20 somethings as Sorority Life and Fraternity Life do. Isn't that a bit of a double standard then.
My two cents on the issue.
Carolyn

Re: MTV and sorority/fraternity member portrayals
 

Amen on the Real World/Road Rules issue. The fraternity and sorority members on those shows often aren't representing themselves any better than the girls on Sorority Life.

Also, I believe I read an article that women on 14 different campuses contacted Sigma AEPi after the first season of sorority life, wanting to start up chapters at their own schools. While Sorority Life isn't necessarily completely beneficial to the groups that decide to do it, there are definitely benefits -- like the opportunity for expansion -- involved. And this may even hold true for the entire Greek community -- although I haven't seen any hard and fast facts, from what I've seen, sorority rush numbers were up at most big universities this fall. I don't know about your school, but at my school they were up by A LOT. It may be from the extra exposure from Sorority Life.

Re: MTV and sorority/fraternity member portrayals
 

I can't speak on the IFC and NPC folk that have come on Real World and Road Rules. However, for the NPHC folk that have been on those two shows...I haven't been embarassed by their actions. This is partially b/c they know that wearing their letters on the show, and being EXCESSIVELY (more than a little) ignorant, is going to generate a response from the BGLO community (and possible even their National entities).

However, there's a big difference b/w individual members participating in RW/RR...VERSUS entire sororities participating in a show for the specific purpose of showing a side of Greekdom, hence the title "Sorority Life."

I think it's pretty safe to say that there wouldn't be NPHC chapters on there even if there wasn't a National boycott. Individuals brought the whole fiasco to the attention of the "head honchos" and undergraduate chapters were communicating to eachother about this LONG before the ban.

We know that MTV, and the general public, have no reason to be in our business.

Re: Re: This is about all locals...
 

I didn't think anyone was bashing these groups because they are local. I thought we were (or atleast I was) bashing these groups because they were stupid enough to put their sorority business on MTV.

If they were National groups, and equally as stupid, I'd feel the exact same way.

So...if you're a local sorority, and you're not the sorority that appeared on MTV. Don't be offended by my words. HOWEVER, if you're CONSIDERING appearing on MTV...be VERY offended by my words and please take them to heart.

Re: Re: Re: This is about all locals...
 

I have to 'somewhat' agree. I think local GLO's are great. Heck, I even used to be part of a local and it was a great experience. But if by some offchance MTV contacted us to do a TV "reality series" I would be deadset against it.

Sure we might have got the house we always wanted, but in pretty much all real-life GLO's (whether it is a local, NPC, IFC, NPHC, or Professional or any other kind), drama happens at one point or another , and if the drama is going to be the ONLY part MTV shows on tv, I'm not for that.

That's just my opinion on that. I think it is great that Sigma has been contacted from all over from people who want to start new chapters. I'm sure they got lots of positive repercussions in addition to the negative side of it which was on the site.

If some groups want to publicize their "drama" in hopes of getting a house or other chapters, that's their call. I guess there's a price for everything.

ChoasDST, you're right - stupidity is an equal opportunity employer. I guess I'm just doing a sort of pre-emptive strike because I don't want to read tons of local-bashing entries like the last time around. that's just somthing I am sensitive about.

Thank you also Carolyn for your post. I think that it did have some positive moments - mainly showing that not all sorority girls look like Barbie. What killed me is when this stereotype was shown to be untrue - people were criticizing the Sigmas because they DIDN'T look like Barbie. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. People just like stereotypes and preconceptions because then they can put a person/group in a box and not have to use their brain anymore.

I think some of the situations may have been exacerbated by the fact that Sigma was a Jewish interest sorority. They got raked over the coals for asking women if they were Jewish, but IMO they were justified - same as if they would have been an agriculture or engineering sorority and asked women if they were ag or engineering majors. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any of the "Jewish" parts of their sorority to really determine if their asking that was valid. The new group doesn't have any affiliation like that so hopefully they won't get slapped w/ the "sororities are snobby" tag.

I'd just like to ask, how was Rush for everyone? Some people thought it negatively affected it, but how was your year for you? Was it below, above, or at average?

For us, ours was the worst one we ever had. We had NINE girls go through Formal Recruitment. By the end, we got 1 girl and the other sorority got 3. We had to work really hard through COB (something we've never been good at, but now we had to depend on to survive). We ended up initiating 7 girls this semester... not too shabby for only starting out with one bid to give out.

The year I accepted my bid, we initiated 21 girls. Last year, we were really disappointed when we only initiated 8 (Fall AND Spring). But even so, that year we had at least 18 girls go to Pref Nights.

I think the other sorority did about as well this semester. A new local started up with 12 girls, but I know they'd been planning it for years.

I don't know if Sorority Life had an impact on this. A few fraternities actually had a rough time as well. We thought that the problems could be attributed to anti-Greek Orientation Counselors and other anti-Greeks that were on campus. We had some very anti-Greek people helping out with Orientation this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were bashing us in their group sessions. But I guess we'll have to see how this next season of Sorority Life goes and see if it somehow impacts how many girls go through Recruitment.

A big problem that I saw with the last season of Sorority Life was a lack of tolerance for the differences between locals and nationalsl. A lot of people seemed to be assuming that anything different from the NPC way of life was automatically wrong. When the Sigma girls asked the rushees if they were Jewish, there was a gasp from the majority of NPC sorority girls on this board: "I can't believe they did that! We would never do that!" And it's true that in an NPC sorority that would be very much frowned upon -- but Sigma isn't an NPC and doesn't have to go by the same rules. The same went for a lot of the so-called hazing allegations -- just because your nationals/internationals says it's hazing doesn't mean it necessarily is in the eyes of the law. I remember people also disapproving of the way the Sigmas still used terms like "rush," "pledges," "pledge mom," etc. Just because the NPC has retired these terms doesn't mean that everybody has to.

There seemed to be a lot of intolerance for anything beyond the NPC guidelines for running a sorority, and that was sad. I know that the majority of us here are in national organizations, and that it's frustrating for us to have to explain to rushees the difference between the "Sorority Life" sorority and our organizations. I know it's frustrating that we have to deal with the fallout of this TV show. But the fact that the Sigmas did some things over the course of the season that wouldn't be allowed in NPC orgs doesn't mean that they're any less legitimate of an organization -- they're just different.

On the subject of Recruitment, the numbers were low for us as well as for another neighboring campus. However, I have no clue whether or not this was affected by Sorority Life.

As to MTV, I saw the commercial for Fraternity Life today and I'm just really sick of MTV playing on all the Greek stereotypes. It was a cheap joke the first time around, now it's old. I'm sure that the Fraternity and Sorority Life series' will be just as drama filled as before, but it would be really nice to see some actual events and brother/sisterhood. I'm not holding my breath though.

http://stingray.tamu.edu/images/humourous/wtlw2.gif

Kitso
KS 361 posts i've read since August on here about Sorority Life ;)

Amen sugar, amen.

I am going to try and be optimistic about this season... even tho I probably won't be able to watch what happens on either show cuz i don't have cable. so i will be relying on all of y'all to give me updates... anyway i digress.

i figure any PNM going through spring recruitment will have had some friends that went to through fall recruitment (unless your school doesn't do fall stuff.) I couldn't believe listening to our now new initiates on how they were glad they went local and that this sorority is nothing like Sorority Life... which leads me to believe that maybe we had such high numbers because they might have been curious in the first place. so maybe those new members who made the sudden "revelation" that yes, MTV does like take everything to the next extreme, they will spread the word. Or maybe people will take the hint and realize the power of editing and take the second season with a grain of salt.

of course if everyone is going to be glued to their TV to see what crazy things these new GLOs will do or not do, of course MTV is going to get what they want and they will continue to make more.

kitso, your post cracked me up... do we really need to fill the forums with MORE SL/FL discussions again? :rolleyes:

Thank you, i try <bows deeply>

seriously, i'm gonna watch, just because it was so much fun watching how much of a train wreck last season was.

Kitso
KS 361 times i was like damn, i wish they'd given me and my pledge bros a new suburban to tool around town in when we pledged

You know, my chapter uses the term "New Member", but we still call our New Member Educator "Pledge Mom" out of habit. The New Member Educator really is like a mom though. You can't have her as a big sister, but she still watches out for you and is so proud of you when you're initiated. During Formal Recruitment we make sure we don't slip up on the term "Rush", but otherwise we use it in a non-meeting setting. We still name our pledge classes because the girls want to. We have a lot of pledge class pride because we worked together as a team for an entire semester. Sometimes my class gets into a bit of trouble, but we usually mean well.

Bah to PC-ness. Is someone really offended by the term Pledge Mom? Or Rush for that matter? Doesn't Rush refer to the tradition of "rushing" to your house after accepting your bid? And didn't you take a "pledge" to join the group and to do your very best to emulate the ideals of that group. I don't understand what's offensive about that.

I really don't think there's any exception for hazing though. I mean, we're not supposed to just let people skate through New Member Ed. I think they should know about the organization they're joining and learn to work with others (because they're going to have to do that in their organization and for the rest of their life), but asking them to do dangerous or embarassing things is wrong. I'm all about team-building activities and educating men/women about their organization (they should care if they're joining, after all). I don't know if the S-AEPi girls did anything to haze, but they (and any other org) should keep in mind when they're on TV that doing questionable things is probably not a good idea.

just checking in!
 

(just wanted to say yikes! for starting a local v national flame, and to DTD alum, I thought it was rather crass of you to down me simply for being a newer member of greek chat. could it have been more welcoming? had I read your post the first day I linked here, I would not have become a member at all. I did happen to see a few sorority life disputes on GC, that's what made me sign up. Attitudes appeared unfair, and one-sided, and I thought something needed to be said for the underdog.
and to few of you saying you were not criticizing locals in the beginning, besides one of you who apologized for "appearing rude" (BTW, thank you for your sincerity), take a look at page one. If I had the time to quote, I would, but look at your words...you didn't say "locals on MTV", you merely said locals, which explains my offense, being a member of my local org.
to you who didn't care to be respectful of local greeks, and blame all for the poor decisions of few...ignorance can be bliss, can't it? don't expect to get far in life.;) )

i'd uh, like to give a shout out to my road dawgs, 33girl, and big ups to sugar and spice!

Re: just checking in!
 

WOW. I don't think it's a personal attack to simply suggest that newer members might want to check out last years threads where we covered this topic ad nauseum. If you don't want to, that's OK, too, but please understand that there is some history here.

Let's all be friends :)

Why is everybody always picking on us?
 

I'm a Kappa Sig at north Alabama--i too, am a little disgruntled at the stance media and mtv has taken towards greek organizations
and greek life. I never got a chance to watch the "sorority life" show--God knows how they are going to bash the fraternities if they choose to make a "fraternity life" edition:o . Frankly, i have chosen not to waste my well spent time or train of thought on watching these such diparaging shows, though I know they exist...a reputation is something someone ELSE thinks about you anyways. I know that my own fraternity as well as many GLO's out there have had a positive influence on our surrounding communities--which would not be the same if we hadn't been working in it. I would encourage everyone who is Greek, everyone who adheres to common values and appreciates social organizations, which make them better men and women, to strive constantly to represent a better example to their communities and show them how much they need us

milton (kappa sigma, UNA class of 00')

i just hope that as GC members, all can respectfully continue to discuss prevelent issues as they arise. Such as MTV's greek "reality" specials.
I just hope that the groups who have been filmed, aren't TOO mangled by MTV's protrayal (for the sake of our community!)...gauntlets will be thrown as we see they have already started.
I believe my previous message was misconstrewed: I only mean for discussions to be held without invalidating locals for a show made that make all greeks look bad since we all started as local orgs. It's not the format or constructio of a local that allows MTV to take control, rather the benefits available. As my very first GC post ever stated, we should ban together as greeks as opposed to against each other and ban against MTV. If people feel strongly enough to throw things at people and spend as much time debating the subject, then a stronger, constructive, GOAL ORIENTED approach should be taken. Personally, it's just laughs to me, our system is running fine, our girls know MTV is full of ish. BUt for the others out there, hey, take a stand for the community. Greek love folks!:cool:
also, it's easy to say things (esp in print) and have their meaning be mistaken, so as members of the same group, we should all work to constructively dictate our discussion/debate.

us xi-ettes will probably make sisterbonding moments out of the laughs and scandals of this years new seasons
love, peace, and hair grease

:D :D :D

may i play devils advocate and say, well its entertaining and although we sit there and say oh my god, we would never do that, i see the same things happenin everywhere, its natural, some girls don't get along...thats life, maybe this show, shows us how petty we can all be and how NOT to act and if nothing else just laugh, all reality shows are not based on reality anyways