Greek Life at SMU

After having gone through Rush in January at SMU, there is a lot on my mind concerning the Greek System at SMU. I am definitely happy I did it, however I do have quite a few complaints with how it works, and the outcome of it all. I chose a sorority based on my morals and how I felt when in the house, and because I really looked up and respected all the girls in that house. Although most of my friends went to a different house, I felt that the one I chose was the most me. Little did I know, people did not expect me to stay close with my friends who chose a different sorority. I was shocked by this assumption. Never have I ever let a social group define me as a person, or the people I associate myself with. SMU has a very single minded view of how sororities work; girls are to be friends with their sorority sisters, and are to always be representing their sorority at all times. Not that I don’t love my sorority, but I really do not find it necessary to parade around in merchandise of my sorority letters everyday, or wear pins to show off which one I am. Maybe, if the school didn’t stereotype girls by what sorority they are in, I would, but that is not the case here.  

Its like immediately someone sees my sorority letters on my shirt, they size me up as preppy, snobby, rich, and thinks I am better than everyone else. This reputation is so far off, and so unbelievably untrue that I never even want to tell people the sorority I am in. I choose to not talk about it a lot, because I would never want to limit my friend group to just members of my sorority.  I know I am not the only one that feels this way, but I wish it would be more accepted around campus to be friends with whoever, and not immediately ask what sorority I am in. I find it humorous when if I do not know who someone is, a person will reply “Oh she is a sophomore Theta”, as if because she is a theta that will give me more direction of how to think of her. The Greek System is spinning out of control if you ask me. Sororities are supposed to be a group of young women with the same morals and goals in life, working together to support a cause and help women grow and get to know one another. It should not be a gossipy, exclusive group of people, that are single minded and believe their sorority is better than other ones.

I think SMU thrives solely on the Greek System because our football teams and other sports are not supported so much here. Its like Greek life is all we have to cheer about and support. If we had this much pride for our sports teams and other important groups, we would all be less competitive with one another, and most united. I hope to see SMU more unified in the future, supporting our teams and leadership groups, and even our Greek life as a whole.

The Allure of Facebook

 

The other night I looked at the time on my computer, and it surprisingly said 2:45 AM. What was I doing? Homework, no. Research, no. Online shopping, no. The answer is that I was looking on facebook. I had been on it for a whopping two hours, for absolutely no reason. I was upset with myself, but then I was reminded that almost every teenager, even people in their twenties, use facebook as a way to pass time. And I mean LOTS of time. What is the allure? No one really can answer that. Yes, its night to be able to communicate with friends that I wouldn’t normally call, just to check up and see how they’re doing. But really, other than that, is looking at other people’s pictures and profiles all that interesting? NO.

 I really do not understand why I am falling to the trend of the facebook obsession. I think my generation is so obsessed with appearance, and facebook is the best, most gossip-girl like way to present ourselves. People put up photos of them and their friends having a lot of fun, dressing up and looking cute just so people have a certain perspective of them. I’ll admit I am a victim of the album making club as well. I have put up pictures, not just so the people in them can see them, but also others. While facebook can be useful as sometimes, I believe it is our duty it rid of this nasty habit. In the long run, putting up silly pictures and looking at others profiles is not going to get us anywhere, except for gossiping about others. I am hoping that one day, the allure of facebook will be no more.

Slumdog Millionaire

After watching the movie, Slumdog Millionaire, I was amazed. I was even more amazed after watching “Slumdog” win 8 out of 10 nominations at the oscars. It is truly amazing that a movie full of never before seen actors can go from nothing to the best actors out there this year. What I enjoyed most about this film was that it is so versatile. It does not matter who you are or where you come from, everyone was drawn in and in the end, adored the film. I have yet to here one bad remark about it. It is one of those films that makes me feel so fortunate for living in America, and so fortunate to be brought up in such a stable life, never having to worry about strange attacks or prostitution or anything of that calibur. It was so exciting to see this film take home best picture. It is obvious that these new found actors are so down to earth and extremely talented, which Is the most exciting thing to see when their little film with a big heart triumphs over all. I think the most important thing about the movie is that it did not seem like they were acting. The characters put so much heart into everything, it did not feel scripted or like they were acting at all. I firmly believe that anyone anywhere can connect with this film and find themselves shedding a tear at the end.

He's Just Not That Into You

This past weekend I saw the long-awaited premiere of the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You”. The movie, based on a best selling book, is rumored to be a phenomenon for all the young women in the world and their constant struggle to read the minds of men. I sat through the whole film while everyone around me laughed and sighed as they pictured themselves doing similar pathetic strategies to get a man’s attention. I however, did not feel that this movie pertained to me, my life, and most importantly helping me realize what I am doing wrong with the opposite sex. The main character was so exaggerated as a love crazed, pathetic, working woman, so desperate to fall in love that I could not even identify with her. Never in my life have I waited for hours upon hours for a guy to call, or drove by a restaurant because I knew he would be there. This movie not only made me feel enraged in the fact that some women are actually like this, but also it is embarrassing for our gender overall. Any male who sees this will assume that all girls are psycho over analysts, and even worse, expect commitment after just one date. I know for a fact, I have never acted for thought like the main character in this movie, nor has any girl I have talked to. He’s Just Not That Into You is an embarrassment for the female sex and should be taken as a complete joke, because I personally do not revolve my life around men and what they think of me. I would like to think that most women around the world do things for themselves and do not try to fit the role that men want us to be. 

After reading Siegel’s piece “Being There” from Against the Machine, I feel more confused than ever. I do not really understand what he is trying to get at in this part of his writing. The whole time he is criticizing people for not writing critically anymore, but just satirically and sarcastically. He says “Mockery and sarcasm, though, merely take information, crumble it up into a ball, and throw it back whence it came.” (3) I have no idea what this means, because I personally think that satire is just another form of criticism. People like Sacha Barron Cohen who criticize for a living just simply happen to do it in another way. Its not like they don’t understand and comprehend the issues they are criticizing, like Siegel seems to think. I mean haven’t some of the most powerful, famous novels been purely satirical? Those have never been criticized as people with information and no knowledge. People are constantly going to mock and ridicule things that are written or shown on TV, so I do not understand what Siegel is complaining about. This is nothing new, it has been happening forever.