Bama Rush Week concludes with Bid Day at the University of Alabama

What you need to know:

• Bama Rush Week at the University of Alabama culminated with Bid Day on August 18, when potential new members (PNMs) discovered their sorority placements.
• The phenomenon gained mainstream attention in 2021 through TikTok, showcasing the style and fashion choices of participants.
• University of Alabama sororities belong to the Alabama Panhellenic Association (APA), with the university hosting one of the largest Greek systems in the country.
• The event has inspired a documentary, "Bama Rush: Acceptance Is Everything," premiering on the Max streaming service in May 2023.

The Details:

Bama Rush Week concluded with Bid Day, as potential new members (PNMs) rushed to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Aug. 18 to open their envelopes and discover their sorority fate. For these young women, Bid Day marks the end of a rigorous recruitment process and the start of their sorority experience.

The Bama Rush Phenomenon

Women have long participated in the University of Alabama's rush process, but it wasn't until 2021 that the event caught the eye of the mainstream, thanks to TikTok. The social media platform highlighted the "outfits of the day" (OOTDs) worn by participants during Rush Week, sparking a fashion and style sensation among users. The online fascination continues to grow annually, with this year dubbed "Season 4" of Bama Rush on TikTok.

Sororities Involved

The sororities at the University of Alabama are a part of the Alabama Panhellenic Association (APA). The university boasts one of the nation's largest Greek systems, with over 12,000 members across 40 fraternities and 24 sororities as of last spring, per the Tuscaloosa News. The sororities involved in the rush process include:

• 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 Mu
• Pi Beta Phi
• Sigma Delta Tau
• Sigma Kappa
• Zeta Tau Alpha

Bid Day Celebrations

This year's Bama Rush participants showcased a more subdued style, captivating millions on TikTok. The ladies celebrated their sorority placements, marking the start of their journey as sorority sisters.

URLs:

Bama Rush TikTok Compilation: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bamarush?lang=en

Bama Rush Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzbgj1qkUTM

Contributor and Editor Information:

Contributing: Jasmine Hollie

Bianca Harris is an editor on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Email her at bharris@gannett.com.