Sorority Life... ahead drama factor nine...

[aephi alum]

... because we don't have enough threads about this show

We've just seen the latest and, errr, greatest. Opinions?

I think the sisters did the right thing by calling the new members on the carpet about leaving formal... but Becca is right, it should have come from her. Also, although each new member -was- spoken to individually, the sisters who spoke to them came in and publicly said "We want to talk to you, and you, and you." That wasn't handled very well.

I also don't see a lot of the much-vaunted "sincere sisterhood" in support of Jordan when she's just lost a family member... then again, she wasn't so beat up over it as to skip formal to be with her family... then again, maybe it's all on the cutting-room floor.......?

[OUlioness01]

I was watching tonight for the first time in a while, and while I agree that the pledges should not have left formal I don't see why the sisters confronted them the way they did. Becca said that she was going to talk to them and I thought that that was the way it should have been handled, especially since the pledges are her responsibility. I was also confused about how, even though they talk about how sisterhood was so important to them, they don't seem to act like it a lot of the time. IN my chapter the new members are treated like every other sister except for ritual, and except that new members aren't exposed to any bad feelings within the chapter because the new member period is SUPPOSED to be fun. I don't see the Sigma pledges having much fun with their sisters. It's probably how MTV is portaying it, but how are they going to get women to rush them after seeing what a hard time the pledges on the show (allegedly) had?

[sugar and spice]

I also thought it was pretty ballsy of Jordan to pull the "poor me, my grandma just died" routine after the act she pulled at the formal (when she was also theoretically feeling upset about her grandmother, correct?) -- but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt since I know grief can hit us all in different ways.

I also thought it was on the rude side for Ann to go up to Jordan and speak to her about the formal issue while Jordan was broken up over her grandmother -- but I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt too because for all we know, Jordan might not have even mentioned to the sisters that her grandmother was dying. And either way, Jordan's subsequent outburst was uncalled for.

Ditto on the way the "talks" with the pledges were held. Becca should have been the one to talk to them first.

I thought the bit with Jordan's mom in it was cute.

And this MTV-injected trip to Las Vegas intended to up the drama factor (and probably just to get the girls in more trouble)? I don't know what's worse: the fact that MTV is so blatantly setting these girls up or the fact that they don't realize it.

[phisigsigchic]

As much as at I didn't like Jordan in the beginning, I do feel sorry for her now. She went to formal because, and I am pretty sure about this, I think her mother told her to. She actually really wasn't going to go. But I think everyone told her she should go and try to have as good a time as possible. I mean she already had the dress and everything else she bought. And in either case, she didn't look like she was having much fun. I think the sisters, in this episode, were the REALLY bad ones. I mean we have been seeing the pledges do all this stupid stuff but then for the sisters to go and THREATEN Jordan, Candace, and Amanda the way they did was really unfair. After this episode, my opinion of this retarted sorority has gone even more down than it already was (if thats even possible). I mean it was disrespect basically. While they shouldn't have left the formal (I do completely agree on that), everyone should listen to their side of the story. Plus, ok they did bad, but give them a chance to apologize and correct their mistakes don't treat them like children and completely dis-respect and threaten them or go and take Becca's job away from her (who would have handled the situation much better). We all Jordan won't make it to iniatation (and Mara I heard won't either) but I don't think she should give up on sororities. I see her possibly fitting in better in a national one, but thats just my opinion. (yes that doesn't mean I am dissing local sororities!)

[zchi2]

I personally don't think that Amanda, Candance, Mara, and Jordan want to be apart of any sorority especially not the Sigma's. I think I remember hearing one time Candance saying something good about meeting new people, but all they ever do is complain. MTV could of cut it all out, but come on, can we hear one positive comment from the other girls PLEASE.

They are going to be seniors next year and I don't know why they wanted to join in the first place. Usually when people wait that long to join a sorority, they usually really want to be apart because of what sorority stands for or because of the sisterhood that they see and they desire the same thing. And it usually shows that they want to be apart. I really don't see any respect from these women. From the beginning, I have always felt that these girls were just doing this to be on MTV and I still believe that now.

[DGTracy]

Okay I missed last nights episode so can someone fill me in on what happened? Thanks!

[texas*princess]

I missed it too! can somebody please give me the 411?

Thanks!

[CrucialCrimson]

Sigma sisters meet to air concerns about pledge behavior- leaving formal and changing hotels. It was agreed that Becca as pledgemaster would get pledges side of story before any action taken - some sisters want to vote out pledges now rather than later. Before Becca gets to meet with pledges, 2 or 3 sisters go to pledge house to discuss/confront Amanda, Candace, Jordan and Mara - Mara not in. Amanda and Candace basically lie about not intending to go to another bar during formal. Jordan and Mara hang their hotel situation on the fact that one of the sisters told them that leaving the hotel was up to them.

Pledges call Becca - she's understandably pissed and she speaks with pledges later. It was basically aired - no apololgies made, but after weekly pledge meeting, sisters bring up drama again which leads to drama/cussing exchange between Jordan and a couple of other sisters - also Mara listens to sister that planned formal (I can't remember her name) but refuses to apolgozie for anything.

It doesn't appear that all of the sisters even know Jordan/Dede had deaths in their families, but I think Becca knows.

[dzsaigirl]

Sorry to be devil's advocate, but:

Unless the actives specifically set rules as to when you could leave formal and where you were "required" to stay, then I don't think they have the right to complain about the "pledges" leaving. You cannot spring rules on someone after the fact...

However, I will say that I thought it was rude...perhaps they should take this as a lesson. They should set forth rules about formal if they want rules followed. Like have them sign an agreement that if they attend formal they will stay at the assigned hotel or they will not be admitted, and they will leave at the designated time.

[zchi2]

To me saying that there has to be specific rules that say you can't leave during formal is to me unnecessary. It would be like saying you have to enjoy yourself at our formal and act like you want to be our sister. I don't think that they thought that they were breaking a rule, but I just think that their feelings were hurt because they walked out.

[texas*princess]

CrucialCrimson,
Thank you very much for the summary

[SATX*APhi]

I saw the show this afternoon. My goodness! Wow. If Jessie wanted to express to the 4 pledges what she felt about them leaving formal, she could have asked Becca if she could speak to the pledges at the time that Becca spoke with them. I understand that Jessie was upset and perhaps she was not thinking all that well, but the way her and the other sisters treated the pledges was just outright rude and in very poor taste. "We need to speak with you, you and you!" She did not even give the pledges an opportunity to explain their "wrong-doing."

I do agree that the pledges leaving was rather rude; however, that was their choice. Of course, there are no rules that say that the sisters/pledges need to stay for the entire length of formal; that would be silly. Most people would want to be at formal for a good amount of time, but hey, some people just want to make an appearance and then move on. That's fine if that's what they want. Who are we to judge them? But tell me this, who has formal until 2am? I am sure it started at 7pm-ish.

The pledges did act in a manner that was inappropriate but the way they were approached, "threatened" and not allowed to speak by Jessie and her "gang" was very inappropriate, far more inappropriate than Candace and Amanda trying to get a quick cheap drink from a bar across the street.

I think Jessie needs to be "talked to."

Oh, and BTW, I have always liked Mara. Recently, though, I have come to not be able to stand her. I thought she was so sweet, but have seen how arrogant she is. On MTV.com she posted this message:

"k, so i am a total snob. i would not go camping, ever. not if you paid me. the hotel was scary, so we left. and by the way leslie, the camera crew didn't approve of the neighborhood also, but they aren't allowed to do anything about it.

maybe i am a huge snob, and a pissy brat. but people who know me already knew that. however, staying in a dangerous part of town has nothing to do with my bratiness. i have already admitted to being a JAP. the thing is, i like being a brat. and last time i checked, i don't see leslie, becca, or leah necessarily roughin it in the wilderness either..."

Later, she goes on to say:

"ok, and while i may be bratty about hotels for formal, it was just that. a sorority formal. it is a rather selfish and bratty occasion by nature isn't it? i mean really, let's celebrate ourselves and our nice lives at the westin st francis...? so therefore if i wanted it to be nicer, and was willing to pay to do that, i really don't see why that is so problematic. i didn't leave because i thought i was too good for sigma, or to disrespect the sisters, or for the cameras, or any of those things. i left because i was bored, we were in san francisco, figured i would get out and see the town. had i known they were all gonna go crazy i wouldn't have gone to the formal in the first place. i don't really like to be places where i am trapped and am forbidden from leaving..."



PUH-LEEEEASE!!

Okay, sorry for my lengthy post. I can't wait to see how Vegas turned out!

[gsswonder]

Hi all,

I don't usually post, but I thought that since I have so many thoughts on the show I'd make an exception.

SAEPI reminds me so much of my own chapter sometimes it's scary. My chapter has been around almost as long as Sigma. I've also seen so many girls pledge our chapter simply so they can wear letters and say that their in a sorority. Then they realize that there's actually work involved in our pledging process and that we're serious about our goals and values.

Its also hard to run a chapter thats so young and inexperienced. Especially when most of your founding sisters have graduated or no longer hold a position of power. (Even when you belong to a national.) But hey someones got to do the job.

I think what this chapter needs right now is a group discussion session, pledges included. My chapter once had a situation where a newly activated sister accused myself of other sisters of "un-sigma like behavior" (I guess its sort of the reverse of whats happening on the show). This totally tore apart our group. A line was drawn and sisters began to take sides.

Our pres solved this be setting aside our new business at our next chapter meeting and having an open discussion (following parliamentry procedures of course). This way everybody got to hear every side of the story. In the end everything was worked out and the missunderstanding was brought to a close . We can make jokes about it now but at the time the whole situation was very upsetting.

I do think that what Jessie and the others did was very unwise. I understand that they were upset but it helped Jordan and the others turn the situation around. Instead of helping them see what they did wrong Sigma now looks like the bad guy. I think both groups need to apologize. Althought I think that Jessie was wrong that doesn't excuse Mara's rude behavior. Jessie did apologize to her. Mara should have done the same. Finally (after a post I didn't intend to be so long) I kind of think that if Ann hadn't said what she said Jessie was on her way to apologize to Jordan as well, but was waiting for her to get off the phone. But alas we shall never know.

[meheron]

What about all the other pledges and why is it that the bad ones were picked to be in the house. (I guess there wouldn't be a "good" show if they were all good).

I think if you took Jordan away from the girls she is pledging with and put her in another chapter she would be a good sister. She seems to really care unlike some of the other girls who just role their eyes.

And where are all the actives. We never see them doing things with the pledges. I know in my chapter we do things all the time, invite them to go out, have dinners, they come to chapter, ect...

[sugar and spice]

To me, Jordan has had the worst attitude out of all the pledges -- remember when all the girls were getting their bigs, and everybody else seemed excited except her? All she could do was roll her eyes; she couldn't even fake being excited.

And as was pointed out before, the actives and pledges probably do things together -- I think we've seen them at clubs together at some points during the show -- but it isn't shown because it isn't going to gather the same kind of ratings as Candace making out with Amanda's crush, etc.

Anyway, notice how almost all the girls in the house are 21? MTV did that because those would be the girls who could legally drink and MTV hoped that with all the drinking and clubbing, lots of action would ensue. Of course, as older women who have already been in school a couple years before pledging the sorority, they're a lot less likely to respond well to being ordered around by the sisters, etc.