By Amy Edwards

The Missouri Miner
May 1, 2003

It's a Saturday night, and you're looking for a party. Where to go? From the sights on MTV, a student might assume any fraternity or sorority house would be full of heavy drinkers, pot fiends, criminal behavior, and the occasional orgy or two.

During last year's television season, MTV introduced a show called "Sorority Life," which followed the exploits of pledges at Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi, a women's group at UC Davis. This year, they completed their programming with a new show, "Fraternity Life," as well as the much-anticipated "Sorority Life 2."

MTV is apparently hearing decent reviews of these shows, as their number of viewers has increased, and people parked in front of TV screens have received an inside look to what goes on in the Greek scene.

A question remains, though - does this sort of "reality" television set a true standard for Greek organizations?

Sophomore Matt Lenzner, member of an undisclosed fraternity, believes MTV in no way represents the reality of fraternity life.

"It's not even believable," Lenzner said. "I'm in a Greek house, and I can't relate to any of that."

Several other Greeks agree with Lenzner, as these shows are beginning to find incredible controversy from college campuses around the country.

MTV is now seeing retaliation to their shows, particularly from an organization called Greek101.com, which sells supply products to fraternities and sororities.

"Concerned students and administrators have voiced their displeasure and concern with the portrayal of Greek life on Internet chat boards and in other venues, with some saying that they would boycott or refuse to purchase products featured on the show because of its negative portrayal of Greek life," said Brett Radmin, co-founder of Greek 101.com. "(We) recently severed (our) relationship with MTV because the shows make Greek life look like 'Animal House' instead of promoting the friendships, philanthropy and clean fun seen at the vast majority of colleges and universities."

One anonymous UMR student believes MTV's portrayal of Greek life isn't as dishonest as it may seem. However, he also believes the series is hiding important aspects of life as a Greek.

"The thing is that both sides are right," he said. "There are people who give Greeks a bad name. There also lots of committed students in Greek organizations, who are leaders in the University and prime examples of what true brotherhood is supposed to stand for."

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