Women welcomed to Greek life on Bid Day 2018
August 20, 2018
After a long and hot week, sorority recruitment came to a close as almost 2,000 new sorority members began the traditional humid run from Bryant-Denny Stadium to their new Greek houses to be welcomed by their sisters, friends and family on Sunday afternoon.
After this year’s Bid Day, the University of Alabama’s reputation for having one of the largest sorority recruitments in the nation continued. However, although it has been on the rise for several years, the number of women who participated in formal recruitment in 2018 was lower than in previous years.
In 2017, 2,589 women participated in formal recruitment at UA and over 2,300 received bids, about 89 percent, from the 16 Panhellenic sororities that partake in formal recruitment. According to an email from Chris Bryant, assistant director of media relations, this year, 2,183 women attended the first open house events while 1,957, about 90 percent, received bids.
Spencer Thompson, a new member of Alpha Chi Omega, said she enjoyed her recruitment experience and found it to be very memorable.
“I was able to meet so many people and even though we’re not going to wear the same letters or be in the same sorority, I know that I made lifelong friends that will be there for me during college and even beyond,” Thompson said.
The young women pledging a sorority waited in the stadium until 2 p.m. when they opened their bids and found out what sorority they joined. At the Greek houses, people crowded the streets as women waited for their new sisters to arrive.
“Getting to run home with so many amazing people was such an incredible experience,” said Eugenie Gallinghouse, a new member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. “I was so happy to find a new home with so many new sisters.”
While some women are the first of their family to participate in sorority recruitment, others are continuing a family tradition. For Madeline Nelson, a new member of Delta Delta Delta, participating in recruitment was something she had wanted to do for as long as she could remember.
“My mom was in a sorority, and I grew up knowing her sisters,” Nelson said. “I hope to find the same lifelong friends that she did. I’m really excited to have so many new friends and sisters, and it was a really great decision that will remain important to me for the rest of my life.”
