MTV and Sororities

[shadokat]

Alright, here's a question. Everyone's saying it's MTV, those bad bad people. Yes, MTV will edit all of this footage up into 20-25 minute little snippets that we will all eat up and come back for more the next week. It's THEIR job!!! Just like FOX does with Temptation Island, like ABC does with the Bachelor, like CBS does with Survivor, you get the picture.

On Sigma's website, it says this:

Myth: We have had little advice in the decision making process, and have been going about this on our own.
Fact: We have met with several community members, campus officials and lawyers, to aide us and offer us advice and consultation.

Do we really want to blame MTV for this, if it turns out to be a fiasco, which IMHO, it'll be like watching a bad Lifetime Movie about sororities . These women had all of these outlets for advice, and NOBODY talked them out of it.

As my mother says...you reap what you sow. If this is as bad as some have said, Sigma may not be around to experience all that sorority life is about....I mean, I don't know about you, but if I was due to be a freshman at UC - Davis and I saw this show, and how they dogged PNMs and all that, I wouldn't join!

Also, as a member of an international sorority with a fantastic reputation, I think that speaks volumes about our group, and we're not letting something like a show on MTV bring us down. And if you're a local, well, you can do the same with your own stellar reputations.

[newbie]

Originally posted by shadokat
I mean, I don't know about you, but if I was due to be a freshman at UC - Davis and I saw this show, and how they dogged PNMs and all that, I wouldn't join!

Will there be a disclaimer on the show that this is not an NPC or NPHC sorority?

I almost went to UCD, and had I decided to go, I'd be rushing this Fall. If they show hazing, etc., I'd definitely be more wary to rush, however, being that my sister (biological) was in an NPC sorority, and loved it, I'd be sure to take it more with a grain of salt. But, I'd definitely be very wary.

Grrrr, I don't have MTV (looooong story), so I'll have to follow this thread to see what happens!

[PhiSigCoco]

Has anyone noticed that this is a Jewish sorority? I know we are all worried about what image this will portray of Greeks, but what about Jews? Antisemitism is already a huge problem. As a member of Hillel and a greek organization, I feel that this could become a issue among campus Hillel groups. I want to know what they are going to do about this. It is true that they are "local", but they are also a member of Hillel... so in a way, that is their national organization. Anyway, just throwing out some more info.

[SIGMA_INSIDER]

Speculate all you want, all that is left is to watch and see.
If anyone is to blame (even though we're not even sure for what), it is MTV. Sigma is inconsequential in this process. If not Sigma, there would have been thousands of others to do just the same. Period. DzRose, giving a few stories of your friends and posts who showed disinterest in a proposal doesn't prove that MTV would be "shot down in a heartbeat", without HQ stepping in, in every single organization. I'm sure you'd like to think that every national organization in every state would want nothing to do with this kind of opportunity, but let's step into reality for a sec and realize the inevitable. They would have found someone sooner or later who agreed to their terms. LISTEN TO DELTALUM and don't point fingers at Sigma.

to the last post about judaism, visit http://www.sigmaaepi.com

[ChiOChic]

Sigma_Insider,

Give me a break! You think that Sigma shouldn't be held accountable for their own actions? Please!! The simple truth about it is that Sigma didn't make a very wise choice. I totally agree with DZ Rose - MTV and Sigma are both at fault. Like I said much earlier, Sigma brought it on themselves. And Serenity, Pre-Sorority Life, greeks were always trying to better their image with the public. Now even more so Post-Sorority Life. People have their stereotypes and preconceived notions already and this just makes it worse. Get off that -it'll magically go away if we just try really hard- dream.

Great Job and Thanks A Lot!

[observant1]

It's funny how a lot of you guys are coming down on the sorority who agreed to be on the show and state "our Nationals would never approve" or "we would never agree to do a show for because of MTV's reputation". But these same people will turn to MTV when the show airs and watch it to see how bad it's going get. So when each and every single greek on this board tunes in, the greeks not on this board tune in, the teeny boppers tune it and whomever else, MTV now has enough viewer support to classify this show as being a hit.

You can't complain about the fire if you are steadily throwing sticks to it. People will moan and groan about the programs but will watch to see what will happens. No matter how you feel-likes or dislikes, when you watch the show you are letting the networks know that you approve of it and they will continue to feed into your curiosity by airing more of these shows.

If you think these girls are bad for participating then you are just as bad for watching and supporting it.

[IowaHawkeye]

Originally posted by observant1
If you think these girls are bad for participating then you are just as bad for watching and supporting it.

I don't think anyone would disagree with me when I say, as a greek member, that I would LOVE for this show to be positive representation of greek life - but just as the initial commercials showed, and the girls who did the commercials reinforced, they did edit and take things out of context - and local or national that puts a negative effect into motion for ALL greeks. It effects all of us so don't criticize us for saying we'll tune in for the premier - i for one want to know what rumors and myths being portrayed on this series I may have to dispell or defend my chapter and national organization from.

When MTV sees a huge inital audience for the premier - then the following week and much smaller audience - maybe they'll get the hint that we don't like how theyre portraying us and we're not going to support it?

[observant1]

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye
I don't think anyone would disagree with me when I say, as a greek member, that I would LOVE for this show to be positive representation of greek life

But you know it isn't, so why watch?

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye
It effects all of us so don't criticize us for saying we'll tune in for the premier -

So it's ok for some to criticize others but the same can't be done unto you?

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye
i for one want to know what rumors and myths being portrayed on this series I may have to dispell or defend my chapter and national organization from.

Greeks as well as non-greek already know the rumors and myths. MTV will not be stating anything new.

Originally posted by IowaHawkeye
When MTV sees a huge inital audience for the premier - then the following week and much smaller audience - maybe they'll get the hint that we don't like how theyre portraying us and we're not going to support it?

I guess this is why the Real World and Road Rules is on its what 20th season, why Jacka@@ is still going on strong... I could go on and on about their shows. MTV has been on since I was young, they've found a formula that works and will continue to work.

I'm just saying don't complain when MTV does another sorority, jacka@@, or reality show when you give it your viewing support.

[ZTAMelissa]

Ok, I guess it's my turn. I have to agree with someone (I don't remember who said this) but I can't see a nat'l org agreeing to this, and I don't mean to offend locals when I say that. But a national org has much more to protect because they have multiple chapters all over the country (ZTA has 229 I believe, that's a lot!) I think the only way an org coul get away with something like this would be to decide for themselves, becuase like I said before, no way would nationals let a chapter do this.

I'm surprised that the Sigmas agreed to do this because ZTA's secrets are very sacred and I know that we would be really scared if they got out, like if they filmed pledging and other such rituals. Those things remain in the chapter and it's something that only members of ZTA can share which is just one thing of many that builds a strong sisterhood.

However, I can see that allowing such a well-known network such as MTV to film your sorority as a local might be helpful as far as gaining recognition goes. BUT, who knows whether it will be good or bad.

Finally, I too would love to see a disclaimer on the show stating how different locals are from nationals, how each sorority is different, and how each chapter within that sorority is different. I'm not sure it will do any good to those graduating seniors coming to campus this year as PNM's, but it'd make me feel a lil better about the whole thing. I'll try to tune in if I can and make my judgment about the show then.

Zeta love and mine,
Melissa

P.S. Wow, this thread has gotten long in just a few short days!

P.P.S. Sorry this was so long and thanks to anyone who takes the time to read it

[SIGMA_INSIDER]

Originally posted by ChiOChic
Sigma_Insider,

Give me a break! You think that Sigma shouldn't be held accountable for their own actions? Please!! The simple truth about it is that Sigma didn't make a very wise choice. I totally agree with DZ Rose - MTV and Sigma are both at fault. Like I said much earlier, Sigma brought it on themselves. And Serenity, Get off that -it'll magically go away if we just try really hard- dream.

Great Job and Thanks A Lot!

ChiOChic, have you seen the show? Do you know how this will affect your sorority? Do you know how this show will affect Greek organizations in general? Yes, I think Sigma should be accountable for their actions. We don't know how the show will turn out. We don't know how this will affect anyone. How do you know this was not a wise choice? What did Sigma bring on themselves? You have some nice cute little generalizations. So we're already in the post-Sorority life era? lol Whoa, that must have been a short series. Give it some time.

[ilovesigma]

i think everyone needs to take a big breath. as someone involved in sigma i can tell you we did not take this decision lightly and contrary to what many think we were not it for the money.
as for the commrcial, please remember that is exactly what it was, a commercial MEANT to get viewers and it seems to have worked. it is impossible to judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a whole tv show based on a 30 second spot. of course there are going to be negative aspects, as there are at every uiniversity and in every sorority in the country but there will also be positives, showing how special and unique it is to be in sigma ae pi. no sorority is without formals, socials, and parties, but that is just one part of what they will show, if they had showed a bunch of girls doing community on the commercial would it have drawn as many as many viewers? and lastly, as for the rituals MTV did not and i repeat did NOT film our rituals, they are sacred to our sisterhood. say what you please, but please give us a chance. and instead of mauling us, support us.

[Zuma]

1) The model for the sorority in Legally Blond was Kappas at USC. I could totally say that the characters in the movie were representative of the members in that sorority. But I dont because I know that the producer and writers pulled qualities of that sorority to fit the vision of their story. How is that different than Sorority Life, where the producers used qualities they found on tape and edited it together to make a story? Because it uses actors and not real people? I could make the same generalizations about the Kappas that you all are making about us, but I dont.

2) How is any of this constructive?
I think that some cooler heads have prevailed, but really some of you are just plain vicious. You havent seen the series. Nothing has occurred on your campuses yet. Yet you continue to bitch and moan like this is the worst thing to happen to you since Britney started dating Justin. I hate bitching and moaning for the sake of bitching and moaning. You want us to do something, than tell us? You want to come up with a positive solution about how to counteract the negative effects of the show for the next year (if you even NEED to, since ya dont know yet, do ya?)? But what the hell are you trying to accomplish with the negative posts about how "absolutely horrible its going to be?" We get the point. Do something constructive. If you are doing it to get us to feel like crap, I for one refuse to feel that way.

The world is full of people and situations that are going to piss you off. Its up to you to make the best of them. And if this is the way you react to them in general, THEN I feel sorry for you.

[SIGMA_INSIDER]

amen to that

[Serenity]

Originally posted by ChiOChic
Get off that -it'll magically go away if we just try really hard- dream.

CTFU!! Yeah, I'll get right on that...just 'cuz you said so.

Originally posted by Zuma
2) How is any of this constructive?
I think that some cooler heads have prevailed, but really some of you are just plain vicious. You havent seen the series. Nothing has occurred on your campuses yet. Yet you continue to bitch and moan like this is the worst thing to happen to you since Britney started dating Justin. I hate bitching and moaning for the sake of bitching and moaning. You want us to do something, than tell us? You want to come up with a positive solution about how to counteract the negative effects of the show for the next year (if you even NEED to, since ya dont know yet, do ya?)? But what the hell are you trying to accomplish with the negative posts about how "absolutely horrible its going to be?" We get the point. Do something constructive. If you are doing it to get us to feel like crap, I for one refuse to feel that way.

The world is full of people and situations that are going to piss you off. Its up to you to make the best of them. And if this is the way you react to them in general, THEN I feel sorry for you.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

[lioness]

From what I've read, it seems as if the vote on whether or not to participate in the show was a close one between the sisters. I really feel sorry for the Sigma girls who had the foresight to see the problems coming and voted against being part of the show.

While the vote was a close one, you make it seem as though some of the sisters had some kind of special "foresight" while the others blindly and irrationally just gave it a go. In reality, I could not imagine that any Sigma didn't go through the loooong list of pros and cons over and over and over again before making this choice. We are not stupid, we know it's MTV, and we know what kind of damage will probably be done. But it was a matter of those pros having far greater an impact than that of the cons. If there is at least some portrayal of the positive aspects of Greek life, which I am absolutely certain there will be, then we will be creating an unprecedented mass-mediated image. If there is some portrayal of the negative aspects of Greek life, of which I am also certain about, then it will be unfortunate, but simply a reinforcement of the stereotypes that are already so prevalent in our pop culture. To me, the kind of breakthrough in which the former situation will result will have a far greater impact on our Greek image than any already-perpetuated stereotype.

It's just common sense -- if you don't want to risk being made out to look bad, then you don't sign a waiver to have your lives taped by a media group that has a reputation for outrageous programming. Sigma should have known better - it's as simple as that.

It's not quite that simple, my friend, becuase we DID want to take that risk. Our motto for the quarter was "coal under pressure makes diamonds," and the very act of taking that risk and doing so together has, in my mind, already brought more unity and strength to our sisterhood than we've ever had before.