Online exclusive: MTV reality shows reinforce negative stereotypes, UCLA Greek community says

Television viewers may get a kick out of watching cat fights and
backstabbers on reality television’s portrayal of Greek life,
but many members of UCLA sororities and fraternities say the show
is a “disgrace” to what really goes on in the Greek
community.

MTV’s reality-based shows, “Sorority Life” and
“Fraternity Life,” are entering their third seasons as
they televise the Greek system in a way that many Greeks at UCLA
say fuels the common stereotypes that plague sororities and
fraternities.

Becky Phillips, a member of Chi Omega, was a counselor for her
sorority last summer, answering questions from potential sorority
members.

Phillips said many women decided not to join a sorority because
of stereotypes associated with them. Phillips, who has been with
Chi Omega for four years, said she has seen a decline in the number
of students interested in sorority life over the years.

“I think a lot of it has to do with stereotypes, or that
our school has gotten so competitive academically that a lot of
people believe the Greek system will take away from their
studying,” Phillips said.

Paige Sawyer, director of recruitment for the Panhellenic
Council, said it’s hard to say if the reality TV show will
directly influence the number of women rushing this year.
Typically, about 300 students rush during the four-day process,
Sawyer said.

The Panhellenic Council is the organization that governs the 11
international/national sororities at UCLA, while the
Interfraternity Council governs the fraternities.

Cara Rosenthal, a Kappa Kappa Gamma member and last year’s
Panhellenic Council president, said the show neglects to portray
the academic success of Greek members, or the philanthropies that
Greeks are involved in, including the Dance Marathon and the
Clothesline Project.

But according to MTV, the show that looks at how six girls go
through the Greek process is not meant to be representative of all
Greek life.

Many fraternity and sorority members say the reality-based
series fuels the idea that Greek life is all about drinking and
partying. Last year’s IFC President Chris Hauck, who also
serves on the Associated Students of UCLA Communications Board,
said UCLA’s Greek system is not defined by such stereotypes
and includes many students who excel academically.

“UCLA has changed academically over the years. We’re
more academically focused now, and that’s reflected in the
Greek system,” Hauck said.

Both Chi Omega and Delta Tau Delta had average winter quarter
GPAs of 3.4 in 2003, according to the Greek life Web site.

Chris Isola, former president of Beta Theta Pi, believes MTV is
“clearly editing” the show for viewers who enjoy
watching pledges doing illegal activities. Isola is concerned that
the reality-based series will hurt the Greek system in the
long-run.

“You’re going to have a bunch of freshmen coming in
and have a completely misguided view of Greek life,” Isola
said. “It only shows a tenth of what it means to be in a
Greek organization.”

Isola said he lives up to the “positive stereotype”
of being in a fraternity ““ connections with alumni eventually
got him a job doing commercial real estate for a company in
downtown Los Angeles.

Stereotypes have always been a part of sorority life, and
Phillips said sorority members try to dispel the notion that
sorority girls are spoiled and arrogant.

Melissa Miller, a fourth-year history student and last
year’s Chi Omega president, said being a part of a sorority
has not only developed her as a leader ““ the members are like
her second family, Miller said.

“The friendship thing ““ I felt I had a support
network, a family away from home,” she said.

But sometimes, living with a houseful of these new brothers and
sisters can “add an extra wrinkle” to life, as a lot of
responsibility is required from each member to run the house, Isola
said.

Overall, sorority and fraternity members seem to agree that the
positive aspects of Greek life outweigh the negative. Even the
stereotypical rivalries between houses are considered highly
unusual, Sawyer and Isola said.

“From my experience, all the sororities work well
together. They’re supportive of each other ““ they
understand if one house does well recruiting, it benefits
everyone,” Sawyer said.