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Television viewers may get a kick out of watching cat fights and backstabbers on reality television’s portrayal of Greek life, but many members of UCLA sororities and fraternities say the show is a “disgrace” to what really goes on in the Greek community.

MTV’s reality-based shows, “Sorority Life” and “Fraternity Life,” are entering their third seasons as they televise the Greek system in a way that many Greeks at UCLA say fuels the common stereotypes that plague sororities and fraternities.

Becky Phillips, a member of Chi Omega, was a counselor for her sorority last summer, answering questions from potential sorority members.

Phillips said many women decided not to join a sorority because of stereotypes associated with them. Phillips, who has been with Chi Omega for four years, said she has seen a decline in the number of students interested in sorority life over the years.

“I think a lot of it has to do with stereotypes, or that our school has gotten so competitive academically that a lot of people believe the Greek system will take away from their studying,” Phillips said.

Paige Sawyer, director of recruitment for the Panhellenic Council, said it’s hard to say if the reality TV show will directly influence the number of women rushing this year. Typically, about 300 students rush during the four-day process, Sawyer said.

The Panhellenic Council is the organization that governs the 11 international/national sororities at UCLA, while the Interfraternity Council governs the fraternities.

Cara Rosenthal, a Kappa Kappa Gamma member and last year’s Panhellenic Council president, said the show neglects to portray the academic success of Greek members, or the philanthropies that Greeks are involved in, including the Dance Marathon and the Clothesline Project.

But according to MTV, the show that looks at how six girls go through the Greek process is not meant to be representative of all Greek life.

Many fraternity and sorority members say the reality-based series fuels the idea that Greek life is all about drinking and partying. Last year’s IFC President Chris Hauck, who also serves on the Associated Students of UCLA Communications Board, said UCLA’s Greek system is not defined by such stereotypes and includes many students who excel academically.

“UCLA has changed academically over the years. We’re more academically focused now, and that’s reflected in the Greek system,” Hauck said.

Both Chi Omega and Delta Tau Delta had average winter quarter GPAs of 3.4 in 2003, according to the Greek life Web site.

Chris Isola, former president of Beta Theta Pi, believes MTV is “clearly editing” the show for viewers who enjoy watching pledges doing illegal activities. Isola is concerned that the reality-based series will hurt the Greek system in the long-run.

“You’re going to have a bunch of freshmen coming in and have a completely misguided view of Greek life,” Isola said. “It only shows a tenth of what it means to be in a Greek organization.”

Isola said he lives up to the “positive stereotype” of being in a fraternity – connections with alumni eventually got him a job doing commercial real estate for a company in downtown Los Angeles.

Stereotypes have always been a part of sorority life, and Phillips said sorority members try to dispel the notion that sorority girls are spoiled and arrogant.

Melissa Miller, a fourth-year history student and last year’s Chi Omega president, said being a part of a sorority has not only developed her as a leader – the members are like her second family, Miller said.

“The friendship thing – I felt I had a support network, a family away from home,” she said.

But sometimes, living with a houseful of these new brothers and sisters can “add an extra wrinkle” to life, as a lot of responsibility is required from each member to run the house, Isola said.

Overall, sorority and fraternity members seem to agree that the positive aspects of Greek life outweigh the negative. Even the stereotypical rivalries between houses are considered highly unusual, Sawyer and Isola said.

“From my experience, all the sororities work well together. They’re supportive of each other – they understand if one house does well recruiting, it benefits everyone,” Sawyer said.