 Media Credit: Jaimie Trueblood/ABC Family |
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| The set of the new ABC family show, "Greek." The show has been the subject of controversy and there was a protest of the show before the first episode aired by greek communities upset at the representation of greek life on the show. |
ABC Family's new show, "Greek," has caused a controversy among Greek communities on college campuses nationwide.
The show is an hour-long dramedy that depicts the fictional college campus of Cyprus-Rhodes University and the members of its greek community. Greek life at the school is depicted as a "social minefield" where it's members of sororities and fraternities must go through rush, pledging and living the greek lifestyle at the university. There was protest to the show even before the first episode aired July 9.
The National Panhellenic Conference, a Greek governing body of 26 organizations, sent a letter to the president of ABC Family upon learning about the show in April.
Elizabeth Quick, chairperson for NPC, said the organization wanted to make contact with the president and express that the show should focus on the core purposes of our organizations: the development of leaders, high academics and philanthropy.
"We would like to see movies and television shows that represent and show the values of our organizations," Quick said.
NPC also teamed with a public relations firm to devise a letter that people could send to ABC in response to the show.
"We wanted to make sure to state the facts and not have irrational statements made," Quick said.
According to the letter the show might promote stereotypes that are not true.
"I am concerned with the negative and inaccurate message "Greek" sends about the sorority experience. Your program will only further promote the stereotypical and mistaken misconceptions about greek life," the letter said.
Some national sororities have chosen to display the letter on their Web sites and allow alumni and collegian members to access them and send them in if they wish.
The national organization of the sorority Delta Delta Delta has taken a more proactive approach.
"The first thing we did was to outreach to the shows producers and offer Tri-Delt as a resource," said Stacy Gillard, marketing director. "We are not protesting, but want to show what we stand for."
Other sororities have waited to respond to the show.
"We wanted to see what the show was about before we jumped to any conclusions," said Janine Hippensteel, marketing director for the national chapter of the sorority Alpha Chi Omega.
Hippensteel said Alpha Chi Omega will not display the letter on its Web site or any other statement about the show, but will help individual chapters handle any problems that might arise from the show.
At Ohio State as the Greek community prepares for recruitment in the fall, the Panhellenic Association and individual chapters are looking to discredit the stereotypes depicted in the show.
Members of the greek community at OSU have admitted to watching the show and most agree the show focuses on exaggerated stereotypes. One scene has sorority pledges stripping and dancing with fraternity members on the front lawn of their sorority house.
"It's funny, but the show takes it to the extreme and at times makes us as girls look horrible," said Rebecca Susman, Alpha Chi Omega chapter president.
Greek members say that the show is entertainment and actual Greek life is nothing like it.
"It's a TV show, if you actually depicted fraternity or greek life as it is it would be a boring show," said Niraj Shah, a member of Phi Kappa Psi.
The biggest impact the show may have on the Greek community is recruitment.
An incoming freshman said that the show might impact their decisions to join.
"I have thought about joining because I have a boyfriend in a fraternity here, but I think the show would make people not want to join." said Whitney Pearson, an incoming freshman, "The way they are portrayed on TV is negative."
PHA is taking steps to prepare for recruitment and letting potential members know the truth, said Liz Warren, PHA president.
"To combat the stereotypes we will probably poke fun at and use a clip to show what not to expect from greek life," Warren said.
Katie Swanson can be reached at swanson.148@osu.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
pd
posted 7/31/07 @ 1:14 PM EST
Ha, the "marketing director" for Tri-Delta got it right; Greeks are all about shameless self-promotion, and if anyone has a problem with that, they have to take it up with their brothers or sisters. (Continued…)
cassandra
posted 7/31/07 @ 1:23 PM EST
i think greek is hilarious and true, some people only go to college to get away from their parents or party.... plus i think i can relate to it bc most girls get jealous, and believe me we DO act like that. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 7/31/07 @ 3:19 PM EST
I think the show is absolutely hilarious because it plays a huge stereotype on what greek life is. I am from a "social" fraternity; however, our chapters average GPA is a 3. (Continued…)
z
posted 7/31/07 @ 3:28 PM EST
so Adam,
you're proving the benefits of greek life by showing us how the majorities of two of the countries largest corrupt groups (Big Business and Politicians) were members of greek organizations?
that makes a ton of sense. (Continued…)
redshusb3
Beth
posted 7/31/07 @ 4:24 PM EST
I must say, I graduated from a small, liberal arts institution and I was in a sorority. I only rushed because I thought it was a great way to meet people in a new environment. (Continued…)
Dan
posted 7/31/07 @ 4:56 PM EST
I do not think that the greek organizations should be trying to "damage control" this show. The stereotypes have to come from somewhere. If the greek community leaders were truly interested in getting rid of this or other negative stereotypes then the main concern should be about the behaviors exhibited by members of fraternities or sororities. (Continued…)
jotjoker
Rachel
posted 7/31/07 @ 6:32 PM EST
I think the Greek community needs to lighten up and take a joke. All this complaining to change the show to focus on ?high academics and philanthropy? is a boring an unentertaining suggestion. (Continued…)
what?
posted 7/31/07 @ 9:56 PM EST
People are so judgemental towards the greek community. one of the problems is that there are people who would like to rush but lack the confidence since you are being judged on your personality and social skills. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 8/01/07 @ 12:05 AM EST
I think fraternities and sororities should spend even more time combating the perception of Greek people as stupid, drunken louts. As much time as possible, really. (Continued…)
Fraternity Alum
posted 1/08/08 @ 1:06 AM EST
I think ABC's Greek show had such a strong backlash because of a fairly risky trailer they put out to promote the show months before it even aired.
I was against the show before it came out but since then have watched every episode and actually await season 2 to come out in April 2008. (Continued…)
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