Every year, thousands of young women participate in a greek life recruitment process known as “Bama Rush” at University of Alabama. While it once was a sweet campus tradition, it has now grown into a social media phenomenon, bringing in viewers all across the country to tune into every detail from daily outfits to beauty routines to even recruitment coaches who cover profiles of top prospects. While many people may see Bama Rush as an exciting opportunity for friendship and community, other people look at it on a deeper level and can see the deep rooted issues within greek life and college culture.

Sororities are organizations designed to foster sisterhood, leadership, academic achievement, and community service. For the majority of those joining greek life, it’s a pathway into creating connections in the social network that can help you ease into college student life. Members often gain access to networking opportunities, philanthropic events, leadership positions, and lifelong friendships. From a distance, schools such as the University of Alabama sorority life plays a large role in campus culture. But, the same cannot be said for every student.

Bama Rush has faced loads of criticism due to its rush requirements. One major concern is the emphasis that is placed on one’s appearance and social status during recruitment. While social media has been quick to make Rush popular, it has also been quick to call out its flaws since most videos require wearing certain clothing brands, wearing your hair a certain way, and wearing heavy makeup. Critics argue that this creates a certain type of pressure for young women to conform to beauty standards within the expectation that to do so, they would have to spend significant amounts of money to fit in.

Another controversy involves issues of diversity and inclusion. Historically, Sororities across the U.S have faced accusations of racial exclusion and/or discrimination. And while many of these organizations have taken the proper steps to adopt a more inclusive space, it is still argued that barriers still exist for the students that come from different racial or cultural backgrounds as well as different socioeconomic statuses. 

With the rise of social media brings the rise in scrutiny of the recruitment process. Millions of viewers now watch in anticipation of fall rush to see recruitment unfold in real time, some girls’ stories and experiences get picked up and turned into rising influencers overnight. This brings some students to enjoy sharing their story while others feel that the increase of attention online stresses them out and turns what is supposed to be a fun college experience into public entertainment.

Supporters of sorority life argue that these criticisms don’t represent the entire experience–I’m sure it does not–Many Members describe their sororities as welcoming communities that promote leadership, philanthropy, academic success, and personal growth. They often emphasize that the friends made through Greek life carry on and have a lasting positive impact.

Basically, Bama Rush represents that not everything can be glorious. It’s an event that represents both the appeal and the challenges of modern sorority culture. It offers you a place to make connections and find your people while also going through a time of personal growth in the transition into adulthood. But, it also shows the importance of challenging beauty standards, social pressure, exclusivity, and the influence that social media has on our everyday lives. As Greek organizations continue to grow and change, discussions about Bama Rush continue to be a large part of the conversation when it comes down to identity, belonging, and inclusion on college campuses.