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To the Editor:
As you may know, MTV filmed the latest installment of its reality television show, "Sorority Life," and its first edition of "Fraternity Life" in Buffalo last fall, featuring two UB student groups. The shows are being aired at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays for 13 weeks, starting last night. The show follows several members of Delta Xi Omega sorority and the Sigma Chi Omega fraternity during new-member education period. Because the show undoubtedly will depict some positive content and may include some negative images, we thought it was worth revisiting how MTV "Sorority Life" and "Fraternity Life" came to be filmed at UB, and what might happen after it airs.
First and foremost, these students, who are in good standing at UB, exercised their legal right to participate in off-campus activities. Whether their choice to star on MTV benefits or hinders them, we will protect their privacy and welfare as we would with any students.
It should be noted that MTV contracted directly with the student organizations and the individual students. All content is controlled entirely by MTV. UB did not endorse or participate in the production. The university did permit on-campus filming in an effort to provide a more balanced look at student life. During filming, UB did everything within its rights to eliminate disruption and protect student interests on campus. The shows were filmed primarily off campus, in pledge houses that were not UB residences. The houses were rented, furnished and maintained by MTV.
These students were aware that as community and university citizens, they would be accountable for their behavior. They were reminded that their behavior would reflect on them, as well as on UB, their sorority or fraternity and Western New York. We believe they took this to heart. Although MTV has not given us access to all 13 episodes, we sense there is more positive than negative content. On the positive front, we will see our students participating in community-service activities, building school pride, studying hard and modeling many healthy behaviors. We remain concerned, however, that some behaviors exhibited by some featured students may not truly represent UB as we know it—as a world-class academic institution and a responsible community citizen.
As appropriate, UB will enforce our student judicial processes and student organization conduct standards. Additionally, we cannot predict how authorities outside UB will react if the program depicts unlawful conduct, such as underage drinking. Obviously, we hope future episodes will not require campus and off-campus responses.
At the end of the season, we hope that MTV will show the world what we already know—that UB is among the world's best places to learn and grow.
Sincerely,
Dennis Black
Vice President for Student Affairs