What Do You Think Of BET's College Hill?

GoldnBlue2004 · #1 04-06-2004, 02:56 PM

Greeting brothers. I am submitting this thread because I have been watching BET's first reality television series College Hill. I think that the show is degrading to America's HBCU institutions. It displays a plethora of negative activity in the black community and with African American College Student who attend HBCUs. I know that BET could have done something better with all the money that they are spending on this one. Let me know what you think? Sound off!

Senusret I · #2 04-06-2004, 03:42 PM

I don't think the show is degrading to black institutions any more than the Real World is degrading to predominately white institutions. Why?

MTV shows drunkenness, sluttiness, abortions, hazing, assault, battery, theft, breaking and entering, etc. Many of these participants are college students (although not enrolled at the time of the show). Don't forget that at the beginning of the season, the cast mates usually say what school they go to.

College Hill, in my opinion, shows far less than MTV reality shows do. Now, I find neither show to be degrading, but if I were to pick, MTV shows are worse.

Furthermore, the behaviors that I see on College Hill aren't unique to black college students....I know many a "Kinda" and "Jabari" from all races.

Finally....it's unscripted television. They don't go in there and tell Kinda to act loose. They didn't tell Shalondrea to get knocked up and not know who the father is. They did that on their own.

If there is anyone to blame, I say blame the participants. But I don't blame them, cuz I don't find the show to be degrading.

Senusret I · #3 04-06-2004, 03:43 PM

Oh yeah, my MAIN point was supposed to be that they can't show what they don't see. The participants bring their behavior to the table, therefore that's what is filmed.

GoldnBlue2004 · #4 04-07-2004, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Senusret I
I don't think the show is degrading to black institutions any more than the Real World is degrading to predominately white institutions. Why?

MTV shows drunkenness, sluttiness, abortions, hazing, assault, battery, theft, breaking and entering, etc. Many of these participants are college students (although not enrolled at the time of the show). Don't forget that at the beginning of the season, the cast mates usually say what school they go to.

College Hill, in my opinion, shows far less than MTV reality shows do. Now, I find neither show to be degrading, but if I were to pick, MTV shows are worse.

Furthermore, the behaviors that I see on College Hill aren't unique to black college students....I know many a "Kinda" and "Jabari" from all races.

Finally....it's unscripted television. They don't go in there and tell Kinda to act loose. They didn't tell Shalondrea to get knocked up and not know who the father is. They did that on their own.

If there is anyone to blame, I say blame the participants. But I don't blame them, cuz I don't find the show to be degrading.

First of all the show is degrading to HBCUs in general. It cannot be compared to MTV's The Real World because the Real World tends to deal with how people act living together in society and in an apartment. College Hill deals with how African American students interact with one another at Southern University which is one of our prestigious and large HBCUs. I think that College Hill should be taken off the air or something or better yet, we should boycott it all together.

Senusret I · #5 04-07-2004, 12:43 AM

How does it degrade? The people on the show want to be there. Southern wanted BET to be there.

GoldnBlue2004 · #6 04-07-2004, 12:53 AM

Even though Southern wanted BET to be there there could be a limit as to what gets shown or what is said on camera. I mean the very first episode showed a fight in the background. Most HBCUs have the nickname that we are party institutions or that there is a plethora of crime on our campuses. College Hill is basically letting people know that most of our institutions are party schools when they really aren't and that we do have a lot of violence and crime on campus when we really don't have that much to deal with. I mean imagine someone who is interested in attending an HBCU and their family hasn't been exposed to HBCUs but they decide to watch College Hill and then they begin to learn what an HBCU really is. There decision to attend and HBCU might change because they will not want to deal with people who act like they are in high school or worry about their safety on campus. This show is only decreasing the enrollment of students in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Like I said before being a Communications major and knowing what needs to be put out there, BET could have used that money to put a program together about something meaningful and positive instead of displaying the negative actions and activities that take place at our black institutions.

bro_strawter · #7 04-07-2004, 05:13 PM

Personally, I don't like the show either. I also feel it does not represent HBCU's in the best light. Babyface and Tracee should've thought that one through a bit more. It's like, so lw budget.

Strawter

GoldnBlue2004 · #8 04-07-2004, 10:04 PM

I totally agree. I mean can we see some of the positive things that they do on campus like attending classes. Maybe they could get off the fraternities stepping and focus on some of the workshops or programs that they do on campus. I mean Southern University has a great law school program. Could we see more student facuty/interaction? I am tired of people trying to make African Americans portray certain stereotypical images. That is why Chris Tucker will not play in anymore Friday movies.

Attractive#7 · #9 04-08-2004, 01:18 AM

I see where where both of you guys are coming from...my opinion...

I've only seen the show once. I think the show is degrading; however, the people are doing it to themselves. I feel like they are showing the more problematic areas of HBCU's instead of the positive aspects of our schools. I don't think that the men and women on the show should behave the way that they do, but hey that's them. Even though it is "reality t.v.", the reality of the situation is...they edit what they want to, cut what they want to, show what they want to, and they pick the people that they want to be on the show based on what people want to see. They purposely pick people to play roles to add drama or excitement to the show. All in all...I don't like it...Down with College Hill and BET!!!

Bro. Jones · #10 04-08-2004, 07:07 PM

It could have been better. Will this the the only season of College Hill?

TheEpitome1920 · #11 04-08-2004, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoldnBlue2004
Greeting brothers. I am submitting this thread because I have been watching BET's first reality television series College Hill. I think that the show is degrading to America's HBCU institutions. It displays a plethora of negative activity in the black community and with African American College Student who attend HBCUs. I know that BET could have done something better with all the money that they are spending on this one. Let me know what you think? Sound off!

I don't think its degrading to HBCUs even though I've never been to one. The students there are just being themselves and I'm sure being on the show will be a learning experience for all of them. I think what is really offensive is the poor quality of the program. But for some reason I keep tuning in,lol.

Senusret I · #12 04-10-2004, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I don't think its degrading to HBCUs even though I've never been to one. The students there are just being themselves and I'm sure being on the show will be a learning experience for all of them. I think what is really offensive is the poor quality of the program. But for some reason I keep tuning in,lol.

That's what I think, too!

notorious4it · #13 04-14-2004, 10:23 AM

I don't attend an HBCU but I do know that what is seen on College Hill is typical of my campus and I go to Murray State where there are only about 400 undergrad blacks. Also the situations that they are in are typical of all colors. I don't think they deserve an NAACP Image Award or anything but they also are doing what most college students do they're just doing it on display for the whole world. If they acted different we would think they were putting on a front.