UB Greeks on MTV
By Editorial | Aug. 28, 2002Beginning shortly after Labor Day, MTV will be taking its cameras to the streets of Buffalo to film the next season of its series, "Sorority Life." Hoping to give the show an East Coast feel, MTV has chosen a sorority and a fraternity from UB to follow and will chronicle the lives of the brothers and sisters as they take part in rush events and participate in daily college life.Coming so soon after UB's recent, and unexpected, transition into the upper echelons of the Princeton Review's rankings of top party schools, MTV's decision could represent a tremendous opportunity for UB - if we take care.While MTV's presence will certainly provide UB with nation-wide exposure and recognition, in addition to attracting tourists to patronize Buffalo's flagging economy, there is a very fine line between becoming the kind of Greek powerhouse the administration envisions and creating an image of the university and the city of Buffalo that's both inaccurate and destructive.MTV is known for selling both melodrama and sex, as seen clearly in its reality-based shows like "Road Rules" and "The Real World." The Buffalo bar scene is certainly rife with these characteristics, but are these the characteristics we want to showcase in front of millions?
