MTV did it again!

[binks]

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

[gphiangel624]

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!

[tkeos443]

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

[AnchorAlum]

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.

[GeekyPenguin]

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?

[binks]

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

[AlphaXiDiva]

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!!!

[MandyKaydee]

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.

[DeltAlum]

[i]that's all! blame MTV, not the locals!!!

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.

[ChaosDST]

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 ).

Originally posted by DeltAlum

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.

[33girl]

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.

[MandyKaydee]

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.

[MandyKaydee]

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

[33girl]

Originally posted by MandyKaydee
The group on the previous MTV show gave all other Greek organizations a bad image.

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.

[binks]

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.