The twisted economy of “Rushtok”: Some influencers of a women’s club can pay tuition fees, but they flee hate over the Internet and a violent reaction

Darnell has so far been the embodiment of Rushtok, a week -long marathon with teenagers in schools all over the country to document their efforts accurately to calm a dear spot in a women’s club during the colored and mysterious recruitment process known as Rush Week.

She said that the reactions to the content that was pulled once to fame – depicted her life as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha at the University of Alabama – became so negative that it was affecting her mental health.

“This year was like a completely different level of hatred,” Darnell said.

Quoting the need to protect horizons from harassment, many women’s associations have taken similar moves, which made an actual ban against speaking to the press or publishing on social media during the Rush week in Alabama, where about 13,000 students participate in the largest Greek life in the country.

A centuries -old tradition

Throughout the country, Rush is usually a 10 -day event as “potential new members” try women through tours of activities that define a strict list of groups and literatures. At interest, girls often provide “social biography” and the letters of recommendation from a gynecologist.

Participation often requires an eye opening price sign.

After spending tens of thousands of dollars at times on clothes, makeup tickets and aircraft, each of the conscripts paid $ 2600 for this week 550 dollars to participate. It is not refundable if they are not chosen. If they are accepted, they will pay $ 8,400 on average for the semester to live in a women’s club home, or $ 4,100 if they live elsewhere, according to the Alabama Banjlinik Association.

It can be so much pressure that the consultants industry now helps girls to move in mysterious standards often to land from a required women’s club. Some $ 10,000 receives for months of services that can start in high school.

Throughout Rush, many events are only an invitation. At any time, girls can get a horrific call to inform them that they have been dropped – that our organization is no longer interested in allowing them to join. The matches are finally presented on the day of bids, where the options prospects and the highest offers are arranged.

Morgan Kadenid, 20, has gained such a audience on Rushtok despite her decrease until she covered most of the tuition fees with income from social media. Then the social cost came as it was criticized online for criticizing Greek life. Now the marketing pioneer – it appeared on “My mom’s guide from Al -Hayat Club” to Rush! – She said that she is looking for a work that is not connected to the Internet.

Follow Tiktok excited

Install with Rush was renovated when women’s associations resumed recruiting a person after the epidemic.

Social media has become immersed in “Outfit of the Day” and “Prepare with me” videos that showcase our organization and recruits in well lit rooms, and sometimes boast brilliant AmazonAlways carefully carefully.

Alabama’s Greek life got attention before, when they are traditional white societies Integrated racistTheir first black members were accepted in 2013. Target the next Outters of racial discriminationThe university agreed with the Ministry of Justice in 2016 to encourage diversity. Today, black students outside women’s associations and black brotherhood are traditionally 2 % of Greek membership, says the university website.

Meanwhile, Rush’s online interest has led to polarized documentaries and a realistic TV series, and expanded the attractiveness of women’s associations in the south in particular, according to Lori Stefanelli, a New York City consultant who flies to Tusciaosa every year for Rush.

Stefanelli trained girls from all over the country, and about a third of her customers are registered in Alabama. She says that many of them are drawn through the vibrant photography of the brotherhood, which indicates a female friendship that can ensure the feeling and support of the girls.

“This is why many of them want to go to Alabama, because they see this on Tijook,” said Stefanelli.

He asked the recruits to stop publishing – otherwise

If they get enough followers to become social influencers, the Rushtok participants can earn ads and brand deals. Darnil’s financial independence publications brought more than $ 58,000, costing her annually to Alabama from outside the country.

Stefanelli said Rush can be fun and help girls build confidence, but also “emotional rotation”, especially for girls who feel they need to reveal themselves to a huge audience. It answers phone calls at all hours of the night during the Rush week.

She said, “I am literally treated, I am talking about these girls from the edge.”

Several new beginners at the Associated Press this week have been explicitly prohibited from talking to the media or even publishing Rush in Alabama. Darnell said that the most selective “older” homes would automatically fall out.

“Now many girls come to the university to be influential,” she said. “This is a kind of hindering brotherhood.”

Some new students-who have a 19-year-old sister, have chosen with the vast social media-her special follow-up-to publish it anyway, which fulfills an application that could reach millions of views within days.

Ezi Darnell – whose options will not share a women’s club before the day of giving on Saturday – said that her older sister had prepared her to move in criticism and potential predators. But she worries about how other girls deal with fame and money.

Ezi Darnell said: “I am just afraid what some girls will do because they think they should.”