UND's Greeks call portrayal misleading

By Ashleigh Milbrath
The Dakota Student
Staff Writer

May 1, 2003 - Two of MTV's newest reality television shows involve Greek life on campus. "Fraternity Life" and "Sorority Life" have proven popular with MTVers nation wide. However, many say that the shows inaccurately portray Greek life.

Episodes of MTV's "Fraternity Life" have shown members of Sigma Chi Omega at the University of Buffalo going to local bars and clubs, holding house parties and mingling with multiple women. "Sorority Life," in its second season, takes a look at Delta Xi Omega, which is also located at the University of Buffalo.

The women can be seen at bars, clubs and various other parties and escapades. MTV has capitalized on the sorority infighting and hazing and discipline of pledges.

One firm that supplied apparel for the shows, Greek101.com, has recently removed itself from the show.

"It was our hope as a provider of apparel and other merchandise for MTV's shows, that, as a supplier, we would be able to help dispel the images of Greek life created by movies such as 'Animal House.' These shows are doing the opposite, however. They are taking backward steps away from a previously positive movement," said the Web site's co-founder Brett Radmin.

"At first our involvement seemed like a natural fit," Radmin said. "Now, we are distancing ourselves as far from possible from the shows at this time."

Many members of the UND Greek community also say that MTV's shows don't reflect reality at all.

"We are not seeing a realistic portrayal of the Greek lifestyle... What we are seeing is the sensationalized MTV version of it," said Cassie Gerhardt, coordinator of Greek Life at UND.

Gerhardt said that not only do both MTV shows depict a more dramatized version of the Greek lifestyle, but they also forget to mention several crucial components of the system.

"They are ignoring various important aspects of what sororities and fraternities focus on, such as academics and community service projects," Gerhardt said.

Gerhardt was not the only person to feel that both "Fraternity Life" and "Sorority Life" are leaving out large pieces of the story.

"Neither show depicts the real Greek interaction and both shows forget to show the service and academic sides of joining either a fraternity or sorority," said Colleen Halligan, member of UND's Delta Gamma.

The guys agree.

"The show is definitely fake and scripted ... They are highlighting and capitalizing on all the negative aspects of fraternity life," said Andrew Sinn, member of UND's Sigma Nu fraternity.

Neither the sorority or fraternity highlighted on MTV are part of national organizations- they're local chapters. That means that they don't have national rules to follow.

"It is not a national sorority ... Much of what they do would not be allowed if they were," said Heather Stadstad, a 1998 Delta Delta Delta alumnus. "There is no pledge house type of thing that goes on in Greek life."

Gerhardt also expressed noted differences between national Greek chapters and MTV's local ones.

"National chapters would not stand for what is going on in those houses," she said. "I was shocked and surprised by the hazing shown in Fraternity Life."

Since the airing of certain episodes, Sigma Chi Omega has been suspended at its University of Buffalo location.

"What MTV is showing is the stereotypical view of Greek life ...It's what people think of after watching the movie 'Animal House.' No Greek chapter at UND displays the characteristics illustrated on these shows," Gerhardt said.

Return to article index >