As a current and active Greek member, I find the TSM website, and twitter account especially, a misrepresentation of the Greek community. Just one question before I dive in: what even is a “total sorority move”? Is it when we give back to the community, or maintain a GPA above a 3.0? Because that’s what I’ve been told is a move in the right direction. I’ve noticed that the TSM twitter has decided to not discuss that though.
Sadly, sororities and fraternities are misrepresented everyday in the media and especially movies. While movies like “The House Bunny”, “Sydney White” and “Legally Blonde” are humorous, they are in no way an accurate depiction of a sorority girl on the Ole Miss campus. I believe that fraternity members would think the same about Jimmy Tatro and “Total Frat Move” as well.
While these movies are meant to be lighthearted, the “Total Sorority Move” twitter account on the other hand, is actually sometimes insulting. It talks about sleeping around, drinking, crafting, and “being the perfect balance of a saint and a sinner” as a sorority’s core values. I agree with TSM that those examples are a huge part of the college atmosphere. I do believe however, that discretion is best and some things are not as explicit and raunchy as TSM describes.
Yes, I am not perfect. I have been out on the The Square when I probably should’ve been in my bed, I have failed a test, and I have messed up in relationships. But those mishaps do not define me. It seems to define TSM. Those mishaps are also a rarity. TSM fabricates itself for attentions’ sake to act like sorority girls are always hungover and failing classes, just trying to get to the next happy hour. This is very untrue. If anything, being Greek has only helped my GPA, and studies have shown that on college campuses, Ole Miss included, Greek students hold a higher GPA average than non-Greek students. What TSM doesn’t seem to hone in on is what being Greek is all about. It’s about being a friend, a confidant, and learning humility and selflessness, just to name a few things.
The biggest aspect of being in a sorority is actually giving back. We owe everything to our communities. The Greek community, Oxford, Ole Miss, and our respective hometowns have shaped who we are today. I owe my community everything for it has given me perspective, morals, and standards, along with my sorority which has only helped me along in my journey. I can’t tell you how many amazing people I have met because I have stepped out of my comfort zone, and immersed myself in a different community. Sadly, this part of a sorority, which we discuss every week at chapter, is often overlooked when trying to define a sorority.
The truth of that matter is that TSM, while existing mostly for comedy, leaves more of an impression than a good laugh. I constantly see the TSM twitter and have to rack my brain to find someone that actually acts in such a ludicrous manner. While it is easy just to turn the other cheek at TSM itself, I also see it impacting those around me. Greek members should focus on bettering themselves, their chapter, and the community. TSM prevents girls from moving forward and holding ourselves to high standards, thinking that drunk and slutty is the way to go through life. College is only four years (for the most of us), so don’t spend it the wrong way.
