As I make a right onto Northrup Place off of Main St., I immediately notice that something is wrong. Northrup is a narrow road to begin with, but now there's a huge truck blocking half the street. I drive a little slower to avoid hitting any parked cars, and to maneuver around this mess. All of a sudden, some fat guy in a black t-shirt and headphones steps right in the middle of the street and holds his hand out directly in front of me, commanding my vehicle to stop. The traffic starts to build behind me. This guy doesn't have a police badge, or a fireman's uniform, or even traffic flashlights. Who is he? And why is he telling me that I should stop for no apparent reason?
I soon learn that the trucks, the extra lights and the obnoxious teamsters are there for the filming of an MTV reality show called "Sorority Life." Actually, there's another show called "Fraternity Life," but both shows are so similar that for the interest of this article, the title "Sorority Life" will apply to both shows.
Having never heard of this show, I turned on MTV for the first time since "The State" was pulled off the air in 1995. The show follows a sorority through the whole process of rush, pledging and initiation. The premise is interesting, seeing as the sociological aspects of a fraternity/sorority get pretty involved over the course of a semester.
Now, before I get started on the show itself, I have to give my two cents on how demented this whole "Reality TV" thing is. From "Blind Date" to "Fear Factor," it's obvious that Reality TV has overstayed its 15-minute welcome. These shows pretend to present an accurate picture of how people interact, the problems they have, and how every minute misunderstanding somehow becomes a monumental argument.
Excuse me while I puke.
If you record enough footage of any group of people, some clever editing and choice dialogue will make for an interesting, if not entertaining, show. Does anyone really believe that the people on "Big Brother" are completely honest about everything they say? I don't. Because if they did, then the shows would be even more boring than they already are.
The beginnings of Reality TV can be traced, ironically, to MTV. "The Real World" and "Road Rules" are clear forefathers of the current incarnation of reality-based television. But go back and watch the original "Real World" or "Road Rules." They were original, fresh and intriguing. You cared to watch the next episode based on the strength of the last one. These days, reality shows are contrived and uninspired. Just look at "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire."
Ok, forget that Reality TV is boring and forced. Let's remember that MTV is one of the most popular channels in America, and they decided to film a show about Greek Life here at UB. Why?
To be honest, I have no idea. UB is not a Greek school. I know, because I have friends in Florida, Michigan and George Washington. Those are Greek schools. UB is not. At UB, there are no school-sanctioned houses, rush is nothing but a few flyers, and it's monumental if an on-campus fraternity finishes the semester with over eight pledges. It is impossible for this show to be a realistic representation of Greek Life at SUNY Buffalo.
So what's the end result of this whole thing? Well, first off, next time I turn onto Northrup, I don't care who tells me to hold up; I need to go where I need to go, and some flash-in-the-pan reality show isn't going to change that. But will this show give UB the reputation of a popular Greek school? Maybe. I suppose it's possible that a few kids will watch MTV and think that it would be cool to go to UB. But I'm sure that the majority of the people who see the show won't be fooled.
"Sorority Life," like all Reality TV shows, is only entertainment. And like most reality shows (anyone remember "The Mole?"), "Sorority Life" will soon be over, and things at UB will soon return to normal. I certainly hope so, anyway.
