The University of Alabama’s Bama Rush Week has concluded, culminating with Bid Day.
The preparations for sorority induction, the outfit choices and the inner workings all came together in the moment when potential new members, PNMs, tore open their manila envelopes and decided which sorority to join on Sunday, August 18, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. After what was called a “running home,” they were greeted by their “Bigs” (their assigned “big sisters”/mentors) and their new sorority mates with t-shirts, hats and other items featuring their sorority’s Greek letters.
Bid Day marks the end of Alabama Rush Week, but it’s just the beginning for the young women who are beginning their college careers as members of sororities.
The Bama Rush Obsession is Real: The OOTD Phenomenon, Sorority Recruitment
Why is #BamaRush important?
While female students at the University of Alabama have been participating in Rush for years, the process became more mainstream in 2021 thanks to TikTok. That’s when Rush Week’s pre-event outfits of the day, or OOTDs, began to grab the attention of users obsessed with the style and fashion choices of young women participating in Rush. It’s the kind of online phenomenon that continues to make waves on social media every year. The phenomenon even inspired a documentary called “Alabama Rush: It’s All About Acceptance,” which premiered on the Max streaming service in May 2023.
University of Alabama sorority house
So what sororities were these young women looking to join? Here are some of them:
Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Delta Chi Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Chi Omega Delta Delta Delta Delta Gamma Delta Zeta Gamma Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Delta Kappa Kappa Gamma Phi Mpi Beta Phi Sigma Delta Tau Sigma Kappa Zeta Tau Alpha
The University of Alabama’s sororities belong to the Alabama Panhellenic Association (APA), one of the largest Greek organizations in the nation, with more than 12,000 members across 40 fraternities and 24 sororities as of last spring, according to a report by the Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA Today Network.
#BamaRush Bid Date Announcement
The girls of Bama Rush were, dare I say it, pretty low-key this year. They captured the hearts of millions on TikTok with what they’re calling “Season 4” of Bama Rush.
Check out the Induction Day announcements as women celebrate joining their sorority!
Contributor: Jasmine Holly
Bianca Harris is an editor on USA TODAY’s National Trending Team. Email her at bharris@gannett.com.