Artwork by
Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

May 8, 2004 - Hollywood may be headed for the University of Missouri next semester. Representatives from Warner Brothers television studios have been on campus searching for potential stars for their upcoming reality television series, Big Man on Campus. The show will be similar in format to ABC's The Bachelor, but in a collegiate atmosphere. Big Man on Campus producers would like to include Greek students in the show, but many Greek leaders are wary of participating.

"We are naturally very apprehensive about the show," Ryan Glowczewski, vice president of public relations of the Interfraternity Council, said. "We're not endorsing the show, but we are also not telling people they can't do it. We've warned all of the presidents of the possible negative aspects of the show."

"I informed the presidents on all of the information that I received and said it is up to them on whether they will participate or not,"
Amy Cross, president of the Pan Hellenic Council, said.

"It's taking a big risk," Kyle Fitzgerald, president of Sigma Pi, said. "There could be more negatives than positives that come out of the show. We haven't had any guys who were interested, so we haven't even contacted our national office yet."

Most fraternities and sororities must have approval from their national offices before they could participate in a show such as Big Man on Campus.

Tara Miller, president of Kappa Alpha Theta, had already contacted her sorority's national office.

"We told our women that if they wanted to participate in the show they would have to file for inactivity for a semester," Miller said. "They would have no contact with current Thetas and no association with the chapter during that time. Our national policy is that if a girl chose to participate and did not file for inactivity, there is a possibility her pin could be pulled and she would lose all membership privileges."

Julia Forcelledo, president of Chi Omega, said, "It is against our national policy to participate. There were a few girls who were interested in the show at first, but I made our chapter aware that we could not be involved."

Jordan Clothier, president of Alpha Kappa Lambda, agreed with the concern most chapters hold, but he also said it could be a positive experience.

"I think it could be a good opportunity if it were done properly," Clothier said. "Our chapter doesn't have a position one way or the other right now. We are going to wait and see at this point. We can't be sure if it's going to be another MTV Fraternity or Sorority Life style of show."

The decision to participate will ultimately rest in individual members decisions. Greeks must decide if they would be willing to risk the good with the bad for a chance at stardom on campus.

"This is a voluntary organization," Miller said. "We can't stop any girls from choosing to participate if they really want to, but we are not encouraging it."

Forcelledo said she examined the fine print in the contract for Big Man on Campus and described it as shady.

"There's no guarantee that it could make us look good or bad," Forcelledo said. "Our Greek system has already made national news three times this semester and we don't need anymore bad publicity."

"It is not Greek Life's decision on whether Greek students can participate or not in Big Man on Campus," Cross said. "If a chapter cannot participate because their nationals won't let them or they just decided not to as a chapter, I support that. If a chapter is allowing their members to participate, I will support that."

There is still no official word if Mizzou will be Warner Bros. choice for the setting of their show. The University of Arizona and the University of Texas are also being considered.

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