Greek life has always been stereotyped in the entertainment industry before.

Movies like “Animal House,” “Legally Blonde,” and “Old School” are all culprits, but this time a TV show has Greeks upset.

The ABC Family show “Greek” debuted on July 9 and portrays the relationships of college students in fake fraternity and sorority settings.

The characters rush, pledge, drink, gossip and go to class among other “normal college activities.”

According to Alexis Muffitt, a freshman nursing major and a new Delta Delta Delta pledge, the show does not portray real Greek life.

She said the women at Tri-Delta treated the pledges as if they were already one of their own, and they did not look down at them or judge them like the characters on the show do to their pledges.

“I thought the girls would be preppy, stuck-up girls who judge you on what you wear, look you up and down, and not actually see you as a person,” Muffitt said. “The girls were not like what I thought, they looked past what you look like and to who you are.”

According to Michelle Shimberg, national president of Tri-Delta, the characters on the TV show have shallow, below-the-surface behaviors, especially during the recruitment period.

Shimberg also said she thinks the show promotes underage drinking and shows drinking in a glamorized way.

“There have been, and probably always will be, TV shows and movies that rely on Greek stereotypes for entertainment value,” said Jenny Gilcrest, national public relations manager for Tri-Delta.

Duane Kerner, a senior biology major and member of Pi Kappa Alpha, said the only time people hear about Greek life is in a negative way.

“They never tell you about the good things,” he said. “They just tell you about the stuff that makes the news, which are usually bad things.”

“Greek” is not a reality TV show but is scripted. Amanda Richardson, sophomore pre-early childhood education major and member of Alpha Sigma Tau said she thinks this entertainment factor is the reason the show presents these stereotypes.

“Obviously, the reason ‘Greek’ is based this way is to get an audience,” she said. “If the show were based on normal Greek life, no one would watch it.”

Muffitt did not deny that alcohol is a part of college life.

“I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but you don’t need to drink to have a good time,” she said. “There are some girls who even bring water bottles with them to parties so they won’t have to drink any alcohol.”

Shimberg pointed out problems depicted in “Greek” are true to all college students.

“Several of the problems, such as drinking and risky sexual behavior are true of all college students,” Shimberg said. “Greek systems are easier to single out and are promoted in this way more than they should be.” Gilcrest said although the show created interest in Greek life, she feels the show is biased.

“‘Greek’ has come very close to making certain behavior seem acceptable,” she said. “The stereotypes portrayed on the show provide a very narrow view and false depiction of what Greek life is really like. Tri-Delta members, and sorority women in general, are a lot more interesting than how they are being portrayed.”

Shimberg said to combat the negative stereotypes presented in the show, representatives from Tri-Delta are sending positive word to the media and member chapters to describe what the Greek experience is really like.

“Tri-Delta, in particular, has been very proactive with the media and ABC Family show producers to set the record straight about the myths and realities when it comes to the real Greek system” Gilcrest said.

Shimberg said representatives have talked to university administrators, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and tried to contact the producers and writers of the show, who were not available for comment.

Shimeerg also said she thinks individual chapters should show their pledges the safe and legal use of alcohol.