We all had a behind-the-scenes look into Bama Rush starting back in August 2021 when the hashtag went viral and Potential New Members (PNMs) of Alabama’s Greek Life were flooding our feeds with their outfits of the day (OOTD) and day-in-the-life content during Rush Week. The University of Alabama is known as the top college for sorority recruitment in the nation. Max’s newest documentary, Bama Rush, follows four young women as they prepare to rush for a coveted place in Alabama’s Panhellenic Society. In the documentary, which premiered on May 23, we get a glimpse at the hesitation and fear associated with what UA’s Greek life calls The Machine, or Theta Nu Epsilon.
According to Insider, “The Machine has garnered a reputation as an exclusively white advocacy group on a campus that has a troubled racial history.” The not-so-secret society is run by historically white fraternities and sororities that are said to have a strong influence on decision-making and the continued racial divide at The University of Alabama, as well as in Alabama politics.
The 100-year-old organization has also been known to be involved in a variety of controversial incidents including break-ins, burglary, and cross-burnings. Although the university has never brought attention to or acknowledged that The Machine actually exists, various news outlets have attempted to expose the organization, like The Esquire with their infamous 1992 cover story.
The story mentions that The Machine started out as a chapter of the Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity, which “believed that secrecy guaranteed selfless leadership. Logos showed a group of devils in hell, with flames licking around them. The fraternity’s rites instilled secrecy with medieval earnestness.”
The organization isn’t shy about sharing its power over student government elections. In a Machine pamphlet from 1989, they state, “Theta Nu Epsilon has elected an SGA president 68 times in the 75 years of the SGA’s existence. This is because the SGA is ours. Our brethren formed it in 1914.”
News editor Jessa Reid Bolling at the U of A’s student-run publication, called The Crimson White, published an article in 2020 sharing a timeline of notable alleged Machine activity dating back to 1976. It describes events including election interference, FBI investigations, physical assault, and bomb threats.
In Bama Rush, which premiered on Max on May 23, the Machine is clearly an uncomfortable topic for many of the students interviewed. Some of the PNMs refuse to speak about it, knowing the possible stakes — they could be dropped from rush or banned from Greek life entirely — and some active sisters say they aren’t even sure that it really exists. One Student Government Associate Justice does acknowledge their existence, adding, “If there’s an election, The Machine’s rigging it. If there’s a homecoming queen, it’s The Machine candidate. You’re going to look at awards, and jobs, and it’s the Machine kids getting it. Even the most trivial things, like football seats, it’s going to the Machine kids.” Spooky!
Perhaps the most insight comes from Alex Smith, a former member of the Machine who left and published an article in the student paper about why she decided to step away from the society. “I think it’s ridiculous that sororities want you to send them a screenshot of your voting receipt. Others want the email of your voting receipt. And if you don’t send that in, some sororities fine you,” she said. She also said that “the Machine is the Greek system,” referring to their influence on rush.
As a former Alabama student who’s seen the drama from the outside, I know you’re as eager as I am to see it from within. And lucky for us, Bama Rush is available to stream on Max now.
This article was originally published on 5/17/23. It was updated on 5/23/23.