The end of the show said it all.

The preference ceremony was over, and it was time for the Sigma Gammas to invite girls to pledge their sorority. Via two different colors of pearls, blindfolded girls received news of extreme joy or cruel heartbreak. In front of the founding members of the sorority and their competition, each girl had to turn to her neighbor and ask what color pearls were around her neck.

Pink pearls meant a welcome to the organization, and black pearls meant a girl hadn’t made the cut. “Sorority Girls” on TLC had me hooked, but not in a good way.

Within 10 minutes of tweeting about the show, I had been retweeted 41 times. The simple statement, “#SororityGirls on #TLC is literally atrocious. It’s like a car wreck I can’t look away from. This is so terrible. #notrealsororitygirls” attracted so much attention that it is still a top tweet.

Chelsea Hanson

But after all that, random Twitter accounts that had retweeted me began to send me links for petitions against TLC to remove the show from the air. I have seen about 20,000 signatures thus far.

But why do these women care so much about a show? “Jersey Shore” is not an accurate representation of the New Jersey population, “Most Eligible Dallas” does not represent the population of Texas, heck — any of the “Real Housewives” shows on the air do not come close to what people in their cities are like (I can say that I have never met a Nene-type mother after meeting many Atlanta families).

People understand that sex, extreme personalities and sheer ridiculousness make for great TV. So why the uproar?

For starters, every single stereotype about women involved in Greek life has been amplified to an extreme on “Sorority Girls.” No sorority was ever founded to promote such negative attributes in the women the show recruits. The show does not incorporate most sororities’ common goals of continuing emphasis on helping women achieve their highest potential, scholarship, community service and creating a life-long bond between women.

The standards that the Sigma Gamma’s on the show had set embodied nothing close to the reason Greek organizations were founded. Personally interviewing the girls and responding condescendingly to genuine questions were some of the nicest parts. They provided alcohol to the potential new members at preference night, then criticized them for drinking. They all agreed that one girl did not represent their ideal yet she made the cut and a girl who wanted to be did not.

The organizations in both Panhellenic and Pan-Hellenic councils have stayed alive because they maintain high standards. And the statistics prove it all: according to WhyGoGreek.com, being a member of a Greek chapter increases the chance of graduating from college by 10 percent due to grade requirements. Greeks raise about $7 million a year for charity and contribute upwards of 850,000 service hours. Out of the 50 largest companies in the country, 43 are headed by Greek affiliates.

Not one of these facts is remotely on the show. Calling girls “slooter cahooters,” embarrassing them in a talent show, allowing them to drink at preference ceremonies and hazing pledges are just a few activities banned at all times by real sororities as opposed to the fake one the show has created.

Moreover, the show displays a sheer mockery of ritualistic events. The rituals of each sorority and fraternity have been written with deep meanings based on history and Greek mythology. Ritual is an extremely secret component of a sorority or fraternity that is supposed to only be shared with members initiated into the chapter. It is a privilege to be part of such a bond.

Yes, I am a member of a sorority, so I do know that some stereotypes can be proven true. But the benefits of being a part of a group of Greek women outweigh the faults.

And as morally inclined and goal oriented as I am, finding a group of women similar to me has helped me grow as a person and take advantage of the networking opportunities.

“Sorority Girls” has chosen to ignore all the good works and camaraderie of the Greek community by perpetuating stereotypes to attract viewers.

— Chelsea Hanson is a senior from Houston, Texas majoring in advertising