By presenting sorority and fraternity life on national television, MTV has attempted to break down the barriers separating those within these organizations and those on the outside.
But for those on the inside of these so-called "secret" organizations, there is a fine line between what is seen and what is not -- what is said and what is implied.
Fraternities and sororities operate at different levels on black campuses than they do on white campuses. The differences range from what it means to be a member to the traditions they honor.
Brandon Bickerstaff, President of Alpha Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., feels as far as percentages are concerned, his organization probably has the highest percentage of non-black membership. His comparison is made against the eight other black fraternities and sororities in the Divine Nine, a term used to describe the four sororities -- Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. -- and the five fraternities -- Omega Psi Phi, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., Iota Phi Theta, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.
The difference with fraternity life depends on stipulations set forth by the school and national committees that oversee each organization. One difference between HBCUs such as Howard University and those chapters on other campuses would be the guidelines the school imposes.
Howard, like most HBCUs, is only allowed one intake process in the spring semester, whereas fraternities on white campuses are allowed to hold intake in the fall, spring and summer semesters.
"With Greek letter organizations on black campuses, unity is not as strong," Bickerstaff said. "On white campuses, chapters are a lot smaller because there are numerous intake opportunities throughout the year."
Television shows like MTV's allow viewers the opportunity to see how an intake process functions and the advantages gained. The membership intake programs/processes (MIPs) can have their advantages and disadvantages. One advantage for fraternities on white campuses is multiple intake programs. This gives fraternities the opportunity for individuals to qualify more than once, generates more interest and revenue for the organization through application fees, dues, etc.
Bickerstaff suggested that one disadvantage to multiple MIPs is that the purpose to serve mankind structurally becomes impossible because people get too wrapped up in getting members and not on their organization's purpose.
Some organizations even choose to accept freshman, a practice black Greeks frown upon.
"Freshmen may not be mentally prepared to deal with the pressure associated with an intake process or the day-to-day operation of the organization," Bickerstaff said.
Another difference between Greek organizations on black and white campuses is the sense of longevity. On black campuses, fraternities embrace their history. Once they enter the organization it's a part of life.
"I'm a Sigma 'til I die, even after I die," he said. "Blacks, no matter whether it's on a black or white campus, pledge their lives to the ideals of the fraternity."
On white campuses, fraternities socialize.
"White [people] who join organizations do it just because it's something to do while in school," Bickerstaff said. He says this is why many white fraternities don't spread their organization out to graduate schools.
Howard mandates that all MIPs be completed before Spring Break. Nationwide, no matter what campus, the intake process must be completed 90 days after the first official interest meeting.
The hazing and pledging policies are also very specific and detailed. Fraternities are not to condone or allow either ones existence. Pledging has been outlawed since 1990. Since then, debates about hazing and pledging have been at the forefront of many discussions.
The only thing nationals mandate is that individuals follow through with an MIP, which should include educational sessions, tests, fees and membership. Some chapters, however, will still pledge their prospects, a tradition that dates back to African Kemet times.
There is a difference between hazing and pledging. Unknown to nationals, some chapters still do pledge. Pledging should be considered as learning how to deal with obstacles of everyday life without laying a finger on someone. If anyone actively chooses to pledge, it should be known that nothing comes without consequence.
Lawrence C. Ross, author of "The Divine Nine: The History of African-American Fraternities and Sororities," has traveled far and near to help people, especially students acknowledge the identity that black fraternities and sororities have on campuses both black and white.
In an article written in Tech Talk Online, Ross expressed a few important sentiments, two of them being the pledge process and hazing.
"The continuation of hazing within recent years believes it will kill at least one black fraternity or sorority in the next 10 years," Ross said. "The process is not about pledges, but it is about the members. You attract what you deserve."
Bickerstaff says, "You can pledge and never be touched...as long as you learn about brotherhood, the chapter, what the organization was founded for, and the founders intentions. Hazing is just senseless -- brutal beating for no gain or advantage with no purpose."
The way MTV portrays fraternity and sorority life may be exactly how viewers see it; however, the process each individual undertakes varies according to the campus and the atmosphere of the organization.
