Many people would describe a sorority girl as: an upper middle class spoiled girl, usually a ditzy bleach blonde that spends her time shopping, partying or hanging on the arm of her baseball-capped, collar-popped frat boy boyfriend.
This sorority girl stereotype is due to the countless movies and TV shows that portray members of the Greek community in this manner. The most recent of these shows is “Sorority Girls,” which premiered on TLC last Tuesday. The show follows five American women as they attempt to start Britain’s first sorority. This show is making it even harder for members of the Greek community to change the negative image people have pinned on them. Greeks all over the U.S. are taking a stand against “Sorority Girls,” and over 12,000 people have signed a petition to cancel the show.
Many members of the Greek community here at Drake, are taking this issue seriously as they attempt to break the frat boy and sorority girl stereotypes. Nick Capellupo, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Drake, does not want members of his chapter being known as the classic frat boy.
“I want us to be seen as a fraternity that gives back to the community through our philanthropy work,” Capellupo said.
It is hard to break the perceptions people already have of members of the Greek community. “Don’t listen to everything you see or read, talk to people about it and they can give you a better picture of what it is all about,” he said.
Members of the Greek community are extremely involved on Drake Campus, “We have girls that are orientation leaders, PMACs and members of the senate,” said Lindsay Crawford, vice president of programming for Delta Gamma. “The members of our chapter are quirky. We are not looking for the perfect girl, we want people who are dedicated to scholarship and service.”
What do members outside of the Greek system have to say about the show?
“After watching, I didn’t think it did justice to what a sorority is. While some girls may fit that stereotype, it was more of an artificial portrayal,” first-year Alessa Strelecki said. “I don’t know if the show should be canceled quite yet. Maybe the negative feedback they have received can help them turn the show in a more positive direction to accurately display what a sorority is truly about.”
First-year Grant Tesmer said, “I think when people join a house they feel like they need to fulfill the stereotype that people have placed on them.” Although, as a nonmember of the Greek system he does not always believe the stereotypes, “I do not view members of fraternities and sororities differently then anyone else on campus.”
Students at Drake make it a priority to positively portray the Greek community as a whole. Through scholarship, service and campus involvement they are attempting to trash the negative stereotypes and give fraternity and sorority life a positive image on campus.
