SEC schools are known to have large Greek life populations. However, with the aid of Tik-Tok, came the rise of #Bamarush.
This hashtag has turned sorority rush season into a craze. Content on the hashtag consisted of outfit of the day videos and guilty confessions. Girls even made vlogs and exposed the secret process of rush. According to Forbes, participants in the hashtag will state which day of rush it is and describe where they got their outfit, including their jewelry and shoes.
According to Daily Mail, “More than 2,300 University of Alabama freshman females ran to their new sorority houses on the school’s campus.’’ Many girls specifically chose their school for the Greek life organizations. In the Bama Rush Documentary on HBO, girls claimed they wouldn’t be at their SEC schools if it wasn’t for #Bamarush.
Sororities at major schools can cost upwards of $4000 per semester. Isabelle Davis, former Daphne High School student and current freshman at The University of Alabama said, “Greek life at the University of Alabama is extremely expensive. I was not prepared to financially pay for it.”
The hefty cost of sororities does not come without its benefits. The University of Alabama Phi Mu house costs over 13 million dollars. However, the house features expensive light fixtures, marble floors, and a grand piano in the center of the house.
At the center of the organizations themselves comes friendship, sisterhood, and philanthropy. Avree Richter, former Daphne High School student and current freshman at Mississippi State University, said, “My sorority gives me a community through the numerous sisterhood events I get to participate in. I have made lifelong friends in the span of weeks through these events. If there’s ever anything I need, I know a sorority sister will help me out.” Richter is a member of Pi Beta Phi. She also participates in philanthropic activities with her community. “Through my sorority, I get to participate in several philanthropic events. I work hands-on in the local elementary schools teaching children how to read. I also work fundraisers on campus to raise money to provide reading materials to low-income communities,” Richter said.
Sorority life at SEC schools may come at a cost, but many believe the benefits of sisterhood are worth the price.
