Dear general population,

I'm going to preface this article with a link to the video that has caused so much stir in the media recently. Following a national trend, the Alpha Phi chapter at the University of Alabama created a video to showcase their sisterhood to potential new members and, likely, a few others. Surely no one knew how much talk this particular video would generate, but it caught the attention of major news outlets such as USA Today, ABC News and the Today Show. The actual Alpha Phi chapter has since removed the video, but a multitude of other sites have reuploaded the video, and it can be viewed here:
This video has been described as "oppressing individuality and diversity." While I don't necessarily disagree, I also don't think these videos are as horrendous as people have made them out to be. Videos such as this have become a part of sorority culture, stemming from a bid day video that instantly went viral, from right here at Florida State.

FSU Delta Gamma's 2013 bid day video set the tone for countless bid day and recruitment videos to follow. The idea being to show potential new members, as well as actual new members and others their sisterhood. That particular video has over two million views, and nearly as many shares, confirming the general population's curiosity and interest in Greek life, even if they are not a part of it. It is a trait of this generation to film literally everything that goes on in one's life, so why not hire a crew to document some of the most important days in your college career and showcase that to everyone?

Okay, I admit it. Sorority life is not as glamorous as these videos paint it to be. Are sisters casually blowing glitter on the front lawn of the house on a Wednesday while on the way to class? Nope. Do these videos show sisters stressing in the informal living room after a hard day? No. Are all members of a sorority running around campus with the sorority flag in tow? Definitely not. Do we go to the beach in our trendy bikinis every afternoon, and take GoPro pictures with cool inner tubes? I wish. These videos are an exaggerated version of sorority life meant for potential new members to get a glimpse of a sorority's sisterhood and personality, rather than try to encapsulate all the things sorority women do on a daily basis. The problem, though, is that these videos are not precise.

Simply put, these videos are not an accurate representation of Greek life. In my eyes, they do not do Greek life justice. Not shown in these videos are the members working hard on student government. Not shown in these videos are the sisters raising over $1 million for the Children's Miracle Network at Dance Marathon. Not shown in these videos are our sisters being at the tops of their classes while simultaneously holding an executive position and a part time job. Not shown in these videos are sisters helping sisters through a heartbreak. Not shown in these videos are the truly incredible women we all have come to know and call our sisters.

Sorority is defined as "a societyorclubofwomenorgirls,especiallyinacollege." This is a club of women bound together by ritual and tradition, not a video of girls running around in pretty dresses, doing mindless activities like skipping in a field or driving a Jeep around town. Sorority is being happy going to the house in an XL T-shirt ready for grilled cheese day. Sorority is traveling the world with your sisters. Sorority is being just as happy staying in for a Netflix night than a night out. Sorority is sisters who push you to be a better version of yourself. Sorority is the most sacred friendships you'll make.

Maybe these videos aren't necessarily accurate, and maybe they come off as stifling individuality, but to me, my sorority is a comfortable, safe place to come home to and know that I have diverse, genuine and authentic sisters wiling to help me in any situation, and that is what a sorority is all about.

To check out some awesome recruitment videos that show off what a sorority is really about, check out these links.

Signed,

A proud member of a Panhellenic sorority.