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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/18140/full/18140/mtv-reality-show-miffs-girls-at-jewish-sorority-in-davis/ <br /><br /> <b>MTV reality show miffs girls at Jewish sorority in Davis</b> <br /> Friday, July 19, 2002 | by <p>JOE ESKENAZI </p> <br /><br /><p>So, are the girls of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi a bunch of Jewish elitists? Or is that just the impression created by hack editing hours upon hours of footage to create a 22-minute show?<br /><br /> Sisters at the predominantly Jewish U.C. Davis sorority, the subject of MTV's latest reality show called "Sorority Life," are ambivalent about how well the show is living up to its title.<br /><br /> In a scene from one of the series' initial shows, a potential pledge says she was given the cold shoulder at a social event because she's not Jewish. Sorority members blame hit-and-run editing.<br /><br /> "They made us look pretty snotty, the way it was portrayed," said Rachel, the sorority's rush chair (sorority members will not release their last names to the media due to security concerns).<br /><br /> "We just wanted to know how people found out [about the social event]. Was it through MTV? Are you Jewish and that's how you found out? It's not true that if we find out you're not Jewish we won't talk to you. If you're not Jewish that's OK, as long as you understand that this is a Jewish sorority and we'll be doing Jewish things. If you're interested in learning, that's perfectly fine."<br /><br /> Between five and eight of the sorority's 46 members are non-Jewish, said Leah, its president, and she believes some of the gentiles know more about Judaism than their Jewish sisters.<br /><br /> Now in its fourth week, "Sorority Life" was filmed over the past school year and is scheduled to run for 13 episodes. The sorority, which claims it was approached by MTV and not the other way around, is being financially compensated. Leah would not disclose specific numbers.<br /><br /> Leah said hundreds of e-mails from viewers have been forwarded to sorority members, with comments ranging from supportive to derogatory to downright nasty.<br /><br /> Bulletin board messages contain the obligatory "So-and-so is a hottie" and "That's not how things are at my sorority" postings. One online humor columnist even pointed out that "The best part about MTV's new 'Sorority Life' series is that you have to pound a few beers before the girls start to look even remotely attractive—it's just like being back in college!"<br /><br /> "Some negative comments are made, yeah," said Leah. "I try not to take it personally. Unless someone's personally met us, I try not to take what they're saying to heart."<br /><br /> "There are a lot of mixed reviews. Sometimes I wonder if people are watching the same show; there are such extremes. Some people think we're doing a wonderful thing for the [Greek] community, other people think this is a huge mistake."<br /><br /> When you're on TV, "people are going to make fun of your hairdo or your style of dress. It really doesn't matter," added Rachel. "I don't care what they have to say. They can think what they want."<br /><br /> Other than the awkward situation at the social event, SAE Pi members are concerned that not many of the uniquely Jewish events at their sorority may have made MTV's final cut.<br /><br /> Many Shabbat events are community wide, and out of respect to community members who don't wish to be on camera—or object to the use of TV cameras on Shabbat—they are not filmed. Many of the sorority's "rituals" are also Jewish-themed and not privy to MTV's prying eye.<br /><br /> Sorority members do sing Hebrew songs and did hold a large Rosh Chodesh dinner for sisters, pledges and parents, and hope that will appear on the show.<br /><br /> "I'd like them to show our Rosh Chodesh dinner" said Rachel. "If you're doing a show about sorority life at a Jewish sorority, you'd want to do that."<br /><br /> While wary of what they've seen on TV so far—and pointing out the show focuses almost exclusively on the pledges and not the sorority members—most sisters are waiting to render judgment until the show has run its course.<br /><br /> "I kind of want to wait until the end. I've spoken with a few pledges, Candice and Amanda, since the show aired. And at times, we've had conversations and they've said 'Oh my God! They cut out what I said' or 'That's not what I meant,'" said Leah.<br /><br /> "We know what happens in the end. We've all found out things that we didn't know happened, but we think we're all pretty understanding of each other. I hope that, in the end, it'll all come out the way it should. I hope the viewers see that too."</p> <p> </p>

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