Think back to the last time you turned on the news or read an article that praised Greek life. Now think of the last time you turned on the news or read an article that attacked Greek life or its members. It probably took you more time to think of the last time you heard something good as opposed to hearing or reading something bad about it.
Why? Because the media will portray what it wants to portray. Whatever generates the most views, most clicks, and most ratings.
It’s no secret that for the majority, if not all of the time, Greek life in the media is portrayed as a joke, as violent, and as full of party animals. Recently Fox released a new TV series called “Scream Queens,” where sorority girls are represented as vapid, selfish, stupid and bratty. Fraternity members are portrayed as pastel-doused douche bags with a touch of homoeroticism for those ratings. It can be enjoyed as entertainment if people can learn to separate fiction from fact. This kind of show is hurtful, however if people are incapable of making that separation, it reinforces negative views, stereotypes and makes it laughable. It makes it okay for a sorority girl to say, “I got Eiffel Towered by hot morons who are brothers,” on national television.
Fraternity men are shown as sex-addicted, alcoholic drug users. For example, take the movie “Neighbors”, where actor Zac Efron portrays a fraternity president whose sole goal is to make his fraternity the best party house on campus, even if it means going to war with nice, quiet neighbors. Their biggest idea is to hot box their entire house, meaning they will fill the house with marijuana smoke. One of their ways they raise funds in the movie for repairing their house is a “personalized dildo” sale. Aside from the P.R. nightmare this would be for any fraternity and its nationals, this just shows again how they mock Greek life and its fundraising events.
Where are the reports of how much Greek life has raised for philanthropies? Where are the reports that show Greeks volunteering at different sites/events? Where are the reports that show how Greek life has changed lives?
I’m not saying we are perfect either.
Greek life is not flawless.
There are real incidents of hazing all over the nation. There have been deaths due to hazing. There have been hospitalizations. There have been chapters getting caught doing idiotic things like selling drugs out of their chapter houses. Emails being leaked where members are threatening other members with “I will Fu$#*#$ C$%@ punt you.”
We need to recognize and take to heart that it is a fact that because we are a part of a national organization, we get more scrutinized. You won’t hear about the hockey club or the scholar house or the rugby team on campus hazing. You won’t hear about it because it’s not newsworthy, because they don’t represent a national organization. Because they won’t generate clicks.
Can we change this portrayal?
Yes.
We live in a world where media is readily available and where we can be active participants. Use it to your advantage. Let newspapers and news outlets know when you are planning a major philanthropic event. Inform your community about things you are doing, bridge those gaps. Increase your visibility. Major media outlets might not want to show your efforts, but you don’t need them to connect to your community.
Be proud of your affiliation. We are national organizations; we need to represent ourselves accurately. In the end, we know what we do to represent ourselves. We know our efforts are real, our volunteering hours, our studying hours. We know how the money raised will help others in need. We know how we positively affect our communities. We know that we need to work hard first, and play later. We know that our brothers and sisters are our families.
Wear your letters proud. We are Greek life, and we are here to stay.
