MTV did it again!

Kitso
KS 361 posts i've read since August on here about Sorority Life

[chideltjen]

Originally posted by sugar and spice


A big problem that I saw with the last season of Sorority Life was a lack of tolerance for the differences between locals and nationalsl. A lot of people seemed to be assuming that anything different from the NPC way of life was automatically wrong. When the Sigma girls asked the rushees if they were Jewish, there was a gasp from the majority of NPC sorority girls on this board: "I can't believe they did that! We would never do that!" And it's true that in an NPC sorority that would be very much frowned upon -- but Sigma isn't an NPC and doesn't have to go by the same rules. The same went for a lot of the so-called hazing allegations -- just because your nationals/internationals says it's hazing doesn't mean it necessarily is in the eyes of the law. I remember people also disapproving of the way the Sigmas still used terms like "rush," "pledges," "pledge mom," etc. Just because the NPC has retired these terms doesn't mean that everybody has to.

There seemed to be a lot of intolerance for anything beyond the NPC guidelines for running a sorority, and that was sad. I know that the majority of us here are in national organizations, and that it's frustrating for us to have to explain to rushees the difference between the "Sorority Life" sorority and our organizations. I know it's frustrating that we have to deal with the fallout of this TV show. But the fact that the Sigmas did some things over the course of the season that wouldn't be allowed in NPC orgs doesn't mean that they're any less legitimate of an organization -- they're just different.

Amen sugar, amen.

I am going to try and be optimistic about this season... even tho I probably won't be able to watch what happens on either show cuz i don't have cable. so i will be relying on all of y'all to give me updates... anyway i digress.

i figure any PNM going through spring recruitment will have had some friends that went to through fall recruitment (unless your school doesn't do fall stuff.) I couldn't believe listening to our now new initiates on how they were glad they went local and that this sorority is nothing like Sorority Life... which leads me to believe that maybe we had such high numbers because they might have been curious in the first place. so maybe those new members who made the sudden "revelation" that yes, MTV does like take everything to the next extreme, they will spread the word. Or maybe people will take the hint and realize the power of editing and take the second season with a grain of salt.

of course if everyone is going to be glued to their TV to see what crazy things these new GLOs will do or not do, of course MTV is going to get what they want and they will continue to make more.

kitso, your post cracked me up... do we really need to fill the forums with MORE SL/FL discussions again?

Originally posted by chideltjen



kitso, your post cracked me up... do we really need to fill the forums with MORE SL/FL discussions again?

Thank you, i try <bows deeply>

seriously, i'm gonna watch, just because it was so much fun watching how much of a train wreck last season was.

Kitso
KS 361 times i was like damn, i wish they'd given me and my pledge bros a new suburban to tool around town in when we pledged

[astroAPhi]

You know, my chapter uses the term "New Member", but we still call our New Member Educator "Pledge Mom" out of habit. The New Member Educator really is like a mom though. You can't have her as a big sister, but she still watches out for you and is so proud of you when you're initiated. During Formal Recruitment we make sure we don't slip up on the term "Rush", but otherwise we use it in a non-meeting setting. We still name our pledge classes because the girls want to. We have a lot of pledge class pride because we worked together as a team for an entire semester. Sometimes my class gets into a bit of trouble, but we usually mean well.

Bah to PC-ness. Is someone really offended by the term Pledge Mom? Or Rush for that matter? Doesn't Rush refer to the tradition of "rushing" to your house after accepting your bid? And didn't you take a "pledge" to join the group and to do your very best to emulate the ideals of that group. I don't understand what's offensive about that.

I really don't think there's any exception for hazing though. I mean, we're not supposed to just let people skate through New Member Ed. I think they should know about the organization they're joining and learn to work with others (because they're going to have to do that in their organization and for the rest of their life), but asking them to do dangerous or embarassing things is wrong. I'm all about team-building activities and educating men/women about their organization (they should care if they're joining, after all). I don't know if the S-AEPi girls did anything to haze, but they (and any other org) should keep in mind when they're on TV that doing questionable things is probably not a good idea.

[AlphaXiDiva]

(just wanted to say yikes! for starting a local v national flame, and to DTD alum, I thought it was rather crass of you to down me simply for being a newer member of greek chat. could it have been more welcoming? had I read your post the first day I linked here, I would not have become a member at all. I did happen to see a few sorority life disputes on GC, that's what made me sign up. Attitudes appeared unfair, and one-sided, and I thought something needed to be said for the underdog.
and to few of you saying you were not criticizing locals in the beginning, besides one of you who apologized for "appearing rude" (BTW, thank you for your sincerity), take a look at page one. If I had the time to quote, I would, but look at your words...you didn't say "locals on MTV", you merely said locals, which explains my offense, being a member of my local org.
to you who didn't care to be respectful of local greeks, and blame all for the poor decisions of few...ignorance can be bliss, can't it? don't expect to get far in life. )

i'd uh, like to give a shout out to my road dawgs, 33girl, and big ups to sugar and spice!

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AlphaXiDiva
(just wanted to say yikes! for starting a local v national flame, and to DTD alum, I thought it was rather crass of you to down me simply for being a newer member of greek chat.

WOW. I don't think it's a personal attack to simply suggest that newer members might want to check out last years threads where we covered this topic ad nauseum. If you don't want to, that's OK, too, but please understand that there is some history here.

[texas*princess]

Let's all be friends

[miltonks5]

I'm a Kappa Sig at north Alabama--i too, am a little disgruntled at the stance media and mtv has taken towards greek organizations
and greek life. I never got a chance to watch the "sorority life" show--God knows how they are going to bash the fraternities if they choose to make a "fraternity life" edition . Frankly, i have chosen not to waste my well spent time or train of thought on watching these such diparaging shows, though I know they exist...a reputation is something someone ELSE thinks about you anyways. I know that my own fraternity as well as many GLO's out there have had a positive influence on our surrounding communities--which would not be the same if we hadn't been working in it. I would encourage everyone who is Greek, everyone who adheres to common values and appreciates social organizations, which make them better men and women, to strive constantly to represent a better example to their communities and show them how much they need us

milton (kappa sigma, UNA class of 00')

[AlphaXiDiva]

i just hope that as GC members, all can respectfully continue to discuss prevelent issues as they arise. Such as MTV's greek "reality" specials.
I just hope that the groups who have been filmed, aren't TOO mangled by MTV's protrayal (for the sake of our community!)...gauntlets will be thrown as we see they have already started.
I believe my previous message was misconstrewed: I only mean for discussions to be held without invalidating locals for a show made that make all greeks look bad since we all started as local orgs. It's not the format or constructio of a local that allows MTV to take control, rather the benefits available. As my very first GC post ever stated, we should ban together as greeks as opposed to against each other and ban against MTV. If people feel strongly enough to throw things at people and spend as much time debating the subject, then a stronger, constructive, GOAL ORIENTED approach should be taken. Personally, it's just laughs to me, our system is running fine, our girls know MTV is full of ish. BUt for the others out there, hey, take a stand for the community. Greek love folks!
also, it's easy to say things (esp in print) and have their meaning be mistaken, so as members of the same group, we should all work to constructively dictate our discussion/debate.

us xi-ettes will probably make sisterbonding moments out of the laughs and scandals of this years new seasons
love, peace, and hair grease

[PhiMuJulia]

may i play devils advocate and say, well its entertaining and although we sit there and say oh my god, we would never do that, i see the same things happenin everywhere, its natural, some girls don't get along...thats life, maybe this show, shows us how petty we can all be and how NOT to act and if nothing else just laugh, all reality shows are not based on reality anyways

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Are the fraternity and sorority that are the subjects of the MTV show from Buffalo?

[33girl]

Cream,

Yes...they are from UB - which is also SUNY Buffalo, but which is different from Buffalo State, right? I've had this explained to me like 5 times and I can't keep it straight. Get new names for your colleges people!