‘Murica. We normally celebrate it on July 4, but this year at Towson it was celebrated on Bid Day, Feb. 18. Bid Day is when the potential new members (PNMs) meet with their recruitment groups and get bids (cards) inviting them to join a sorority. The PNMs can either accept or reject their bids. The chapters gather in front of Stephens Hall, take pictures and welcome the new pledge class with signs. Each sorority also has a theme that’s celebrated with shirts and posters.

This year’s most popular theme? You guessed it, America. This year, four different sororities had apparel related to our country. America is great, but why is everyone obsessed with celebrating it on Bid Day? I don’t think this had to do with the celebration falling on President’s Day.  It’s not only Towson Greek Life that is obsessed with America, it’s all of Greek Life. When I typed in “#bidday” on Instagram, there were numerous pictures that had to do with America.

Tri Delta and Kappa Delta had similar sweatshirts this year. They were both gray, except Tri Delta’s sweatshirts had an American flag on the front. They had their letters in the corner of the sweatshirt, where the stars should be. Under the flag it said “Bid Day 2013,” on the back of the sweatshirt it read “Living the American Dream.” On the front of Kappa Delta’s sweatshirt, they had letters in the corner, written small and “Spring Bid Day 2013” on it. On the back of their sweatshirts, it said the same words as Tri Delta’s, except the flag was in the shape of a heart, and their letters were incorporated into the word “American.”

Alpha Xi Delta sported a navy blue half zip up with American themed letters on the front. Under them it said “Bid Day 2013.” The back of the zip up read the same as the other sororities.

Alpha Gamma Delta went with an American theme as well, except with a Southern twist. Their royal blue, long-sleeve tee shirts said “Sweet Home Alpha Gamma” on the front. The back said, “home is wherever I’m with you.” These are lyrics from the song, “Home is Wherever I’m With You” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. They had their letters under it, and the words “Bid Day 2013” on the bottom. Personally, I thought these were the cutest shirts.

But the rest of the sororities must have missed the America memo because they had completely different themes. Alpha Omicron Pi had gray sweat jackets. Written on the back was “The BEST just got better” in all capital letters. The word “best” was in highlighter pink, to go along with their highlighter-themed letter signs.

Alpha Epsilon Phi did a Disney theme. They wore gray T-shirts with a green Minnie Mouse bow. Their letters were written in Disney font.

Phi Sigma Sigma had black sweatshirts with the Sublime sun on them. The front said “Phi Sigma Sigma Bid Day 2013” on them. The back of their shirts said, “Phi Sig and the livin’s easy.” Some girls also had bright green snapbacks.

Alpha Phi had white long sleeve shirts with dice on the front. The back said, “That’s how we roll.” I’m not sure what kind of theme they were trying to portray, but I loved their new bejeweled letters they had in front of Stephens Hall.

Phi Mu had a nautical theme that was really cute. Current members wore dark gray shirts that read, “Why sail with the rest when you can sail with the best” with a design of sailboats and other patterns in the middle. The new pledge class wore pink shirts.

Zeta Tau Alpha had a similar theme from the past, “Being the best.” They had light blue shirts that said “ZTA” on them with a crown printed in the middle of the “A.” The sorority gave their new pledge class crowns claiming that, “Only the best get crowned.”

Whether it’s ‘Murica, jewels, crowns or sailboats, each sorority says they are the best in some way or another.