Scene of a drunk freshman as seen in the documentary “Behind Campus Walls.”
In August, Foreign Policy profiled a 2010 Iranian documentary produced by Press TV Documentaries for online distribution called “Behind Campus Walls” in order to begin conversations about underlying problems in Greek organizations across American campuses.
Said to greatly resemble Iranian propaganda, the documentary presents a decidedly negative view of the United States.
After filming an episode in which a student in San Francisco purchased a fake ID in order to buy alcohol, Press TV began to follow campus police at The University of Mississippi, said to be hired to fight “stains on college life.”
The TV crew then scans the houses on Fraternity Row, stating that it is “every student’s dream to be admitted into one of these majestic houses,” where “behind the fraternity walls, there are no rules.”
The report highlights the access to alcohol and parties within the fraternity and sorority system, and Foreign Policy states that the documentary presents the Greek system “like Freemasonry with Natty Light and Lacoste Pastels, complete with its own initiation rules and secret handshakes.”
The TV crew then rides around campus with a group of Ole Miss students on a rush night, in which one of the students who is simply identified as Clay states that Greek-affiliated students are “homophobic super Republicans.”
However, perception does not always represent reality, according to Ruben Ruiz, president of the university’s Alpha Gamma chapter of Chi Psi Fraternity.
“As a fraternity, we understand the intrinsic value of our members,” Ruiz said. “We actively take a stance against hazing and unnecessary endangerment of both active and potential members in our organization because we understand that you don’t have to break down a person to ‘better’ them.”
“Behind the Campus Walls” also highlights political figures who came from the Greek system, namely former president George W. Bush, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Trump and other figures.
Total Frat Move writer BlutarskyTFM responded with an article regarding fraternity life shortly after the release of the documentary.
With colorful language, the author begins by stating the documentary is an attempt on Iran’s part to undermine the reputation of the United States.
The writer said filming at Ole Miss must have been “a bit of a culture shock for those freedom haters.”
He also said the Grove on gameday is “a pretty great mix of both tradition and debauchery.”
The TFM believes that the Iranian response to this documentary of Greek life will be positive. When it is viewed, people in Iran will see “fraternity men having a great time surrounded by attractive women.”
At the conclusion of the TFM documentary review, the author at TFM states that the descriptions of fraternity life given by the Iranian documentary are “a pretty accurate explanation of what fraternities are all about. Access to alcohol, majestic houses and top-secret networks built upon alumni relations.”
