There’s been talk circulating around campus about something major coming to Southern, a brand-new reality show centered on students. When I first heard the rumor, I won’t lie, I was concerned. Southern? With a reality show? At a school where drama already travels faster than Wi-Fi in the Union? That might not be the best look.
But then again… the students would be SAT.
Let’s be honest. A campus reality show would instantly become the talk of the yard. Think Baddies meets Jaguar pride. Watch parties in the Union. Instagram premiere countdowns. Group chats working overtime. Instead of catching drama through screenshots on Fizz and Sidechat, we’d get full HD confessionals explaining why someone unfollowed someone at 2:13 a.m. Who was seen at the mall? Who switched friend groups?
Whose situationship just collapsed during midterms?
Absolute cinema.
But Southern has been here before. Back in the early 2000s, College Hill launched its first season at Southern University. It was the first all-Black college reality show, meant to show the “real” HBCU experience. The goal? Authenticity. The result? Let’s just say… those episodes didn’t age well. They were eventually scrubbed from the internet because of the image they portrayed.
And that’s the part people forget.
So here’s my stance: I actually think a Southern reality show could be iconic, if it’s done right. This generation is media-savvy. We know about branding. We know about going viral. We know one bad clip can live forever. But we also love attention. And attention doesn’t always come with a filter. Would we protect the image? Or would we give Twitter a semester worth of content in one weekend?
A reality show could highlight campus leaders, student entrepreneurs, Greek life, friendships, culture, the beauty of HBCU life. Or it could zoom in on every argument, every breakup, every chaotic night and make that the headline.
Personally? I think we could handle it… but only if we remember we’re representing more than ourselves. Southern isn’t just a backdrop for entertainment. It’s a legacy.
But Hey, if cameras start rolling? I’m watching.
