Reality TV "Greeks who shouldn't be considered"
 

After discussing famous Greeks on Reality Tv in another forum, OTW made a very good point. She was upset that I was considering some Reality Tv people "Famous Greeks" when there are many other important people out there who do great things for their GLO. I didn't realize what a sensitive subject it was until I was told that not only do Reality Tv personalities tend to be seen as "Famous Greeks" when they really didn't contribute much to helping their GLO look good or at least in a positive light and that some people are considered "Famous Greeks" in certain GLOs that they may have not been members of.

For instance, I mentioned some people who had disaffiliated or were not in good standing with their GLO before appearing on television (only because that's what I found on-line) and realized that many people who do a lot for their Org. get offended by hearing this.

I wanted to know:
Do you have anyone in your GLO that is seen as a "Famous Greek" because they appeared on Reality Tv and either they DA, were in bad standing or clearly didn't make your GLO look very good on Tv?

Maybe you have had some people say that someone (famous) is a member of YOUR GLO or another GLO that maybe never went to college or never went Greek?

Maybe you have someone who you consider to be a "Famous Greek" that doesn't get that much attention for their membership in your GLO and you recognize their committment. A good example is one of my friends who disaffiliated from Gamma Phi (financial reasons) once told me that Sandra Bullock is a member of Gamma Phi Beta. If that's true-I think that's really interesting because she is not only a great actress but, she continuously gives great deals of money to charities like when she donated $1 million dollars toward Hurricane Katrina victims. Maybe some Gamma Phis can clear this up for me-Is she? :)

Either way, please share because I think there are probably people that were members of your GLO at one time who you may be sick and tired of hearing they are "Famous Greeks" when they truly are not.

Alas, no, Sandra Bullock is not a Gamma Phi - and neither is Reese Witherspoon or Betty Crocker.

Really? Was Sandra once a Gamma Phi because I know she left college three credits short of graduation (or something like that)....

I honestly never heard the Reese Witherspoon one. And it's funny you bring up the Betty Crocker one because in another post-someone made reference to people claiming Betty Crocker but, I'm not sure I have even seen those references either...

I think it's neat that Ann Bowden (wife of FSU football coach Bobby Bowden) is a Phi Mu but, you don't see that on the Nationals website. I think that is weird because although she does not coach the team herself-many people refer to her as the "First Lady" of Football (along with Sue Paterno) because her husband is the FSU coach and all three of her sons are/ were coaches for other big teams such as Auburn and LSU (I think). So, that's one person that should get more recognition from our Nationals. I've also heard that Ellen Degeneres' mom is a Phi Mu....If someone has a very FAMOUS child or spouse-do you think they should be considered in the mix??? After all, the famous child came from their gene pool (lol)....

Once a Gamma Phi, Always a Gamma Phi. Whether or not she finished college, Sandra would be a Gamma Phi unless she resigned. To the best of my knowledge, she has never been affiliated with us.
As far as family members go, it is interesting to know, but I don't think you should be listed as an acomplished alumna just because of who you married or gave birth to!

Good point-didn't really think about it that way...I'm just saying-I've seen people say..."So-and-So is an XYZ...and she is the sister of Such-and-Such Famous person" and so on.....so, I viewed it that way...but, it's neat to see how some people with bad behavior are getting recognized while others who do great things for their GLOs don't always get recognized as much.

No.

We also tend not to call it "Famous Deltas" but rather something like "Notable Deltas." This means that these women are trailblazers and notable even if the mainstream media doesn't know who they are.

I don't recall seeing any Deltas on reality tv or ever seeing a reality tv star on the "Notable Deltas" list. You have to come a lot stronger than just 15 minutes of fame that has no lasting societal influence and public service.

Recognized by national headquarters' listings or just delusioned undergraduate chapters' listings? There's a difference, since not every chapter attempts to use the nhq "famous" members guideline for their chapter listing.

OK I almost choked when I read "Betty Crocker." Betty Crocker is a made up character. So she's not a Gamma Phi, or a member of any of the other wonderful GLOs out there. *lmao* Just to prove it here's some info from wiki. (I know it's not the best source, but I'm too lazy to look for any others right now. :p )

From wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Crocker

In 1921, the idea of Betty Crocker hatched as a Washburn-Crosby Company advertising tool.

Betty as a common woman's name Crocker for the late secretary and director of the Washburn Crosby Company, William G. Crocker

The company first used her name to sign replies to various personal requests for household advice which they received from customers by mail.

pssst.....summer....I included Betty Crocker as a joke!

No, you are right on that one...Sometimes, what Nationals (or Internationals for certain groups) may not find suitable to call a "Famous Member" other Undergraduates are proud to consider. It's like the post in another forum about Paris Hilton possibly going Greek-which was later noted that it was just a show about her living in a house with a bunch of girls and she was not going Greek...Someone stated that some girls would probably be proud to call her a sister while others would hang their heads in shame.

Let me just note-I also looked at the DST website and found it to be very easy to navigate. I noticed it talked about leadership conferences, suspension/expulsion by region, etc. I didn't see anything about Famous Greeks (but, maybe I was looking in the right place)...The point is-I'm not going to assume someone is "famous" because I found it on another site if it's not on the Nationals website.... the way I once had...

I figured that, but there are a LOT of people who think she's real. It cracks me up to no end. And would it really shock you to see her listed as a Gamma Phi? *lmao* I can totally see it.

Don't forget Nancy Drew! Isn't she a Gamma Phi?:rolleyes:

The National website has a Notable Deltas list that is easy to find. :)

Oh-I didn't realize it was under "History"...I was looking for it's own tab. That's where I screwed up. That's a long list. Now, I know not to use Wikipedia as the "end all" so, that's why I wanted to ask a DST...On Wiki it says that Sheryl Lee Ralph was inducted into DST as an "honorary member" in 2004.

I noticed it wasn't on the national website. I was wondering if that information was either incorrect or maybe because she was inducted as an "honorary member" they don't necessarily consider her a Notable Delt. Another question is: If she was inducted as an "honorary member" then would her daughters be seen as Legacies? Forgive me if I am unsure about this because I don't know very much about NPHC-but, I think it's great to learn new things about it. On FOL they said she was now also a Motivational Speaker. I think that's really commendable if she is.

We've had people say Pamela Anderson & Nancy Reagan are ASAs. Well, there is A Pamela Anderson & A Nancy Reagan who were members - they're in our directory - but if you compare dates and such, it's pretty obvious that it's not the famous ones. I think this is what happens 90% of the time when you hear someone famous is a member and they're not - people get excited and don't bother to look at it rationally.

As far as reality TV goes, I think it's getting to the point where there are SO many reality shows, it's not even fame, it's just...exposure. They're not really achieving or accomplishing much of anything, they just are.

Soror Sheryl Lee Ralph is an Honorary Member who is actually on our National website http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/cms/i...d=46&Itemid=64 but not on the Notable Deltas list.


She isn't a reality tv personality so I'd rather not get into a question-answer session.
;)

My questions is, what is the benefit of nationals and especially Chapters going out of their way to promote a group of familiar names as a recruitment tool?

Let's agree that there are varying levels of acceptable notariety, such as important political, civic, or industry leaders. I understand the appeal of being in "good company", and like breeds like. And it can be fun to associate one's experience with that of a celebrity or true role model, because we have gone through the same ritual, had similar experiences.

But, do people really choose ABC over XYZ because so-and-so was a member? Does that person maintain a relationship with the organization? Do they embody the values and missions of the organization to point of becoming iconic?

The point of promoting the membership of people whose names are familiar "just because" - I don't get that.

Kefla Hare from Road Rules Australia and Gabriel Langley from the first season of College Hill are both Alphas. I include them on the notable Alpha list that I personally maintain because:

1) Neither seemed to disgrace themselves or the fraternity.
2) Each proudly represented the fraternity while on the air.
3) Kefla was EXTREMELY popular among college students at the time.
4) Gabriel was considered to be part of the first all-black reality show, as BET described it.

I don't include Sean from Road Rules Semester at Sea because he was not an Alpha at the time of filming.

But this is my own list that I maintain as a service/courtesy to brothers and members of the public who might say "Oh, I didn't know ______ is an Alpha!"

It's not finished, but here's a looksie: http://mulambda.org/page.php?parent_id=&page_id=15979

I remember one of the challenges where Kefla did the Alpha sign as he was about to bunjee jump. It was cute. :)

Kefla was extremely hot at the time. :D

Countee Cullen and Chester Himes, who knew. Great list Rashid!

I don't even know. I'm interested in the "notable" people, the ones who've done something besides just be famous.

It actually turned me off, majorly, to a chapter on my campus that they spent a lot of time just listing off names of actresses that were in their organization. I figured if that was a feature in their attempt to woo me as a PNM, then they must have been really stretching it. I'm not going to join just because ____ _____ (I don't want to give the organization away) is going to be my sister. I seriously doubt if I see her in a crowd and tell her I'm her sister she's going to be very thrilled about it.

Looking back I was a little harsh, but I just wasn't impressed by that. I was more interested in the sisters I would have at the chapter, not the ones I would never ever meet, famous or not.

I wouldn't consider her time on television as "notable" but wasn't Robin (I think that was her name) from the first cycle of America's Next Top Model a Delta? I can't remember, for some reason I feel like I remember her wearing a Delta Sigma Theta sweatshirt or something, but I'm not sure.

She is supposedly a Delta but I have yet to find her listed on a "Notable Deltas" or even "Famous Deltas" listing. :)

I forgot all about Cycle 1.

ETA: Robynne Manning is the older one who wore the letters on the show and I know Sorors who know her indirectly (she is from Tennessee State Univ.). Kesse Wallace from that Cycle is a Soror from Henderson State University. But neither will be on "Notable" or "Famous Deltas" lists necessarily, although they will be on their chapter's website. :)

Shudder...the one name that keeps going through my head while reading this thread is Ann Coulter.

Well, that's a good one to bring up. (BTW, I don't remember which GLO she's in and I really don't care) Some people would shudder to have her as a member...some people would be proud. Same with anyone controversial, or even non-controversial people for that matter. I mean, some of these actresses that everyone is so proud to say they were a member, I wouldn't be. Not because they're controversial, but because I personally just don't care for them.

Well, say what you will, but sisters like Ann Coulter and Nancy Grace have certainly achieved a level of success in their field. So whether or not you like them, that achievement is worthy of recognition. It's nice to know you share a bond with certain women of achievement - but I don't think anyone joins a GLO because of the alumni.

First, Ann Coulter is vapid--this has nothing to do with her politics--she wouldn't know logic if it hit her upside the head.

Second, of course we join because of alumni, just not necessarily the "famous" ones.

How about being the mother of not one...but TWO Superbowl winning team MVP quarterbacks?

Payton and Eli Manning's mom, Olivia, was a Delta Gamma at Ole' Miss U.

I think they should mention her :).

Well, we have alumnae to thank for our groups, but NPC recruitment is such that you are joining the chapter based on the actives.

And don't football players always say "Hi Mom!" when the camera is pointed at them?

Pretty much....as Mr Sageofages likes to say "boys love their mothers" :)

There was Robin Manning, the plus-sized model from Season 1 of America's Next Top Model... she was one of two girls that refused to pose nude because of her religious and moral beliefs. Good for her!
Oh... and she represented DST correctly! :D

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e7..._manning_2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e7...in_manning.jpg

I don't remember him for some reason :confused:

She's PLUS SIZED??? She's gorgeous - but Plus sized???

Anyone who wears larger than a size 12 is considered "plus size".

...which is NUTZ. I'm just saying . . .that is a beautiful WOMAN instead of all those twiggy little girls who are the non-plus sized models.

In modeling, I think it's actually a size 8 or 10 that's considered plus size.

Anyway, a few years ago, Gamma Phi Beta actually sent out a letter to all members telling them that a gal on that season's Real World was NOT a member. I think her name was Johanna, and I think it was the Austin season. She would wear her letters on camera, and she was often drunk (not necessarily while in letters) and hooking up with random guys. Apparently it alarmed members, because they felt the need to tell everyone that at one point she was a member, but that she had terminated her membership prior to going on the show.

That's interesting-I didn't even realize Nancy Grace was a member of a GLO. I'm pretty sure Ann Coulter is a Delta Gamma but, do you know what org. Nancy Grace is a member of?

On most of the couture retail shops I see, 12 is list in regular and 14 is listed as plus.