Sorority Life 3

[bruinaphi]

An article from last Thursday's Daily Trojan:

MTV reality show gets weak reception at USC


Filming: Campus officials, Greeks concerned about network misrepresentation

By BLAKE HENNON
Staff Writer

MTV is filming its third season of the reality series "Sorority Life," this time at USC, and has experienced a cold reception from the university community. The network's cameras are not permitted on campus or on the Row, the traditional hub of Greek life.

The show is filming the lives of sisters in Zeta Sigma Phi, a small sorority in the Multicultural Greek Council.

Zeta Sigma Phi approached university officials about a month ago and asked if MTV could film on campus.

The university declined, said Elijah May, campus filming coordinator for USC External Relations.

"As a general rule, we don't do reality shows," he said.

Despite the no-reality show policy, Campus Filming, Public Relations and the Office of Residential and Greek Life, (ORGL) reviewed the particular case and concluded there was nothing to warrant an exception from the no-filming standard.

Zeta Sigma Phi did not consult with ORGL before agreeing to do the show. After the request for filming permits was submitted, administrators met with Zeta Sigma Phi to discuss the show.

"We in the university, not just (ORGL), are concerned based on other reality shows and what may emerge after editing," said Ken Taylor, director of ORGL.

"I believe that if this sorority were portrayed fairly, they would achieve their goal of a positive image because they're very worthy," Taylor said. "It's a good chapter with good people in it."

MTV did not return calls. A Zeta Sigma Phi officer said members could not be interviewed about the show because of MTV policy.

Zeta Sigma Phi was founded in 1994 at USC as a multicultural sorority. The sorority has 25 actives and 16 pledges. The sorority does not have a house and is not affiliated with a national organization.

It is unknown whether MTV is providing the sorority with a house.

Many Greeks worry, however, that the network's portrayal will not be a fair one of Greek life, especially after the first season featured shouting matches, partying, risqué dancing and the infamous "sober sister" incident in which a sister chose to drink rather than do her duty.

MTV's Web site advertises this season of "Sorority Life" by inviting fans to "Sharpen your claws and vote for wannabe pledges." The reunion of the first-season group was promised to be a "big 'ol dysfunctional family reunion."

Such advertising and editing choices have some Greeks worried that the show will misrepresent USC Greek life.

Courtney Wong, president of the Panhellenic Council and a junior majoring in political science and communication, said Panhellenic sororities are concerned about the show's possible effect on USC sororities' reputations.

She also took exception to the show's title.

"There is no such thing as a typical sorority," she said.

National Greek organizations are distancing themselves from the show.

The show does not have permission from Panhellenic or International Fraternity Council national organizations to film on their houses' private properties, said Erin Jackson, Alpha Phi's delegate to Panhellenic and a junior majoring in communication and French.

Her sorority is not wearing its letters in public because the sisters do not want their letters shown on the show.

"I just think it's sad that that sorority doesn't really realize how detrimental the impact that they're making on USC in general and the Greek system is going to be," Jackson said.

IFC fraternities are also wary of the show.

"We were definitely informed to not participate in any way by our national fraternity," said Alex Hoover, past president of Kappa Sigma and a senior majoring in philosophy.

It is unknown how MTV will edit Zeta Sigma Phi's season, but MTV has already edited out of one sorority event.

On Feb. 22, Zeta Sigma Phi had a social event with its brother fraternity, the brotherhood of Sigma Chi Omega at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where Sigma Chi Omega did not allow MTV cameras to film the event, fraternity spokesman Paulo Galicia wrote in an e-mail.

Galicia said the fraternity has no relationship to the Sigma Chi Omega at the State University of New York, Buffalo, which is the subject of MTV's reality show, "Fraternity Life."

MTV has been criticized for presenting a distorted "reality."

Becca Ballon, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of California, Davis, who was featured in the first season of "Sorority Life" when she was the pledge master, said MTV did not show a complete picture of her sisters' lives.

"Everything that was shown obviously happened, but when you are filmed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and less than 1 percent of that footage is aired, (MTV) will really take the juiciest bits and the most dramatic moments and highlight those," Ballon said.

The show's producers also created the "pledge house," which Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi had nothing to do with — MTV decorated it and chose who lived there, Ballon said.

Ballon warned that the Zeta Sigma Phi sisters' lives will change when the show airs and added that it will be difficult for them not to cringe while watching.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi consulted legal advisers and UC Davis officials for months before agreeing to do the show, Ballon said.

MTV told the sorority it wanted to tape how the organization worked and show the Greek community's positive side.

She and her sisters decided to go ahead with the filming because it was a medium to show how far they had come as a group since their creation in 1996.

The sorority received some financial compensation for being filmed, Ballon said.

Being on the show, however, has been beneficial, she added.

"We have a louder voice. We're more recognized, and we're stronger internally," she said.

[WhirlwindTNX]

I can see a pattern, MTV is choosing local sororities instead of national. Is there a reason for this? I have my own ideas, but what does everyone else think?

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by WhirlwindTNX
I can see a pattern, MTV is choosing local sororities instead of national. Is there a reason for this? I have my own ideas, but what does everyone else think?

National sororities (at least the NPC's) do not want their chapters to participate in this show, and rightly so. I hardly think any chapters would want to be ridiculed on national TV anyway.

ETA: I'm not sure if the NPHC sororities have a policy on the whole MTV sorority life thing?

[WenD08]

for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., if an undergrad chapter asked for permission to be on SL _, their graduate advisor will tell them "no". AKA on SL_ will not happen. for good reason

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by WhirlwindTNX
I can see a pattern, MTV is choosing local sororities instead of national. Is there a reason for this? I have my own ideas, but what does everyone else think?

Most (if not all) Nationals are making it verboten for their chapters to partake in MTV shows...
Delta Gamma Fraternity Statement on MTV's "Sorority Life"

[SlipRock 229]

Personally I *HATE* MTV and it's vapid, bambi / biff attitude...everytime I happen to run into it somehow, I lose a point of IQ....


As for reality shows as a whole...it just needs to stop...look at the new one..that Hotel whatever where ppl just hook up...and then someone leaves and a new hookup is entered...WTF??

How sleazy can they get anymore?

[LeslieAGD]

Texas- Gal, any updates on SL3?

[tnxbutterfly]

Originally posted by WhirlwindTNX
I can see a pattern, MTV is choosing local sororities instead of national. Is there a reason for this? I have my own ideas, but what does everyone else think?

Hey Whirlwind,

Welcome to GC. Hope you come and post more often.

You don't have to worry about Theta Nu Xi appearing on SL. I think it's a rule forbidding us from going on the show.

[WhirlwindTNX]

Originally posted by tnxbutterfly
Hey Whirlwind,

Welcome to GC. Hope you come and post more often.

You don't have to worry about Theta Nu Xi appearing on SL. I think it's a rule forbidding us from going on the show.

Thanks sis!!!

I'm not a fan of the SL and FL shows but I think it's great they have decided to do a Multicultural Sorority. Then maybe they could do a Latin sorority or fraternity. I wanna see how they do things.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I think a vast majority of reality shows, in particularly SL and FL are crap. As it was said previously, MTV edits and broadcasts things in such a way that i think is a mockery, and further feeds negative stereotypes about sororities and fraternities. SL and FL along with ALL so called "reality" shows are created for one purpose and one purpose only RATINGS. Without ratings, these shows wont be back for multiple seasons because it wont generate money for the networks that broadcast them. I dont watch reality shows especially SL and FL for that reason as my way of boycotting them. I erge others, not just greeks, to do the same( especially in regards to SL and FL).

Mary
Delta Upsilon
Kappa Alpha Theta

[CatStarESP4]

Thanks for the article! I am more annoyed than ever before that MTV has to create sensationalism. If they want to portray us in an extremely positive light, I wouldn't mind. However, seeing what I saw in the two SL seasons and that one of FL, I am truly disgusted. I am glad that Greek101.com pulled out their sponsorship after seeing the negative sensationalism these shows brought. I don't think we should endure another season of FL and SL. BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by CatStarESP4
Thanks for the article! I am more annoyed than ever before that MTV has to create sensationalism. If they want to portray us in an extremely positive light, I wouldn't mind. However, seeing what I saw in the two SL seasons and that one of FL, I am truly disgusted. I am glad that Greek101.com pulled out their sponsorship after seeing the negative sensationalism these shows brought. I don't think we should endure another season of FL and SL. BOYCOTT!!!!!!!!!

I will never boycott these shows - they're funny! They're a horrible portrayal, but they're funny, and a lot of stuff on TV isn't anymore.

[UT PhiSig]

I agree with geeky I mean any fraternity that gives someone like Earl a bid should be shot. Its funny just to laugh at some of this shit. As for national fraternities/sororities I really dont think they would want the negative publicity that being on MTV would bring. I know that the Arizona State chapter of Phi Sig got yanked off campus just because they hosted a big girls gone wild party at there place so imagine if a national GLO was in MTV.

PHI SIGMA KAPPA-damn proud

[absolutuscchick]

Your website is amazing! Good job!!

Originally posted by Texas-Gal
Thanks to all of you from these forums who have been visiting my website, and reading the recaps of "Sorority Life" and "Fraternity Life."

I wanted to clue y'all in to my very recent discovery (tonight!) about the sorority that will be featured in the next season of SL - Season Three:

Zeta Sigma Phi
a multicultural sorority at Southern Cal

I put more info about them on the website - but was curious if there are any members of that sorority that post here?

_______________________________

Make It A Double, Sweetie: Unofficial Home of MTV's "Sorority Life"

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[mmcat]

earl will probably be president of the group before too long.