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I found this while I was searching for articles about MTV's show online... Thought it was kind of interesting because it gives the view of some Sigma members and also the view of a non-member who is friends with a few of the girls... It's from the non-member's online journal.
Wednesday, February 06 - MTV is Calling
The cat's out of the bag... KCRA did a segment on Monday evening, The Aggie printed an article yesterday and publicity is just beginning. This is something that has finally been announced to the public but has undeniably been on two of my housemates' minds ever since November. It's not just a fantasy idea anymore as we are starting to realize its magnitude. This will be the biggest thing to hit the Davis greek system and our campus itself.
Three of my closest friends (Stepha and Housemates Pauli and Jenn) are sisters of SigmaAEPi and since this will directly affect them, it will somewhat affect me, as well as everyone else close to us. The Sigmas are the only chapter of its kind and do not have the reputation for being a stereotypical "Legally Blonde" sorority, which is probably why MTV has chosen them out of thousands in the country to be filmed. MTV will buy a house here in Davis to accommodate 8 sisters and pledges and will film their daily lives as well as regular sorority activities for the entire Spring quarter (think: a pseudo-The Real World). Because it's not a done deal yet, I should be careful not to say more because I don't fully understand the legal issues and rules of confidentiality. But if we're thinking of MTV and the huge media corporation it is, yes, the benefits that have been offered to them for being filmed are mind-blowing.
Not that I think MTV produces high qaulity viewing experiences or anything, but I have been known to be suckered into oh, a few shows now and then (remember the days of My So Called Life and when TRL was actually cool?). And these days I especially think The Real World, Cribs, Flipped, Dismissed and Becoming are quite amusing (so sue me). But when something like this hits close to home, you are forced to look at the entire television industry from another angle. The legal issues are boggling and I don't even know half of it. The Sigmas have sat through hours of deliberation and debate about whether they should do it or not, questions, concerns. Some are vehemently against it, afraid that MTV might portray them in a negative way and while most are excited about the idea, they are well aware of the disadvantages that filming will have. My other housemate, a sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma, has already reported that no greek members are allowed to even talk to a Sigma while a cameraman is next to her. But the Sigmas are handling it well. They have legal representation, are aware of their rights on and off camera, and are taking every precaution to keep the experience a positive one.
I knew Stepha, Pooli and Jenn before they were Sigmas. To this day, we still make fun of silly Greek rituals and pretty much agree on a majority of its stereotypes. But the Sigma group is such a positive one, promoting sisterhood over tradition, that it hasn't changed my girls one bit. This is not to say that there isn't drinking or partying or other "looked down upon" activities. There are of course all these conditions that come with any sorority and greek life, or just being in college alone, which probably tickles MTV funny to be able to catch it all on tape.
Besides my housemates and Stepha, I am also fond of and have gotten to know a few of their other sisters. I am nervous for all of them, not that there will be cameras trailing 24/7 and not that their dramatic lives will be captured on film and changed forever. But I'm scared of the negative feedback from our community, from the greek members whose sororities and fraternities did not get chosen, from the entire country when the series airs, from people who do not know them enough to be validly critical. But I guess this is just one of the prices you have to pay for sharing even a little part of your life to the world.
Even so, it's not everyday that something like this happens; it is quite exciting indeed. Last night Pooli and I were discussing who the sponsors might be for this show and I imagined them coming home with loads of Abercrombie gear and cases of Pepsi. You know, those bad ass companies have so much freaking money, it wouldn't hurt for them to share every now and then. (But no diet coke for Stepha because she might O.D. on it.)
Anyway, permits and legal issues are currently being negotiated with the Chancellor's administration and Davis city officials. More updates about MTV later on.
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