Sorority Cold Rooms: A Trend Among College Campuses

As students return to campuses this fall, a peculiar trend is emerging on social media, particularly among those budding members of Greek life. The spotlight is on “sorority cold rooms,” which are becoming a hot topic for discussion.

These cold rooms typically consist of shared bedrooms, outfitted with rows of bunk beds in large college attics and basements designed to maintain a chilly atmosphere.

With Rush Week underway, the costs involved in joining a sorority are getting more attention. One sorority leader explained, “Picture a large living area that’s shared with beds.” She commented that the layout often resembles that of a children’s sleepover camp.

Many sorority houses indeed have cold dorm sleeping arrangements. “I think they usually keep the temperature around 68 degrees. That’s what we’ve come to refer to as the ‘cold dome,’” she said.

Interestingly, most of the women have quiet alarm setups—vibrating phone alarms or even shock bracelet alarms—implemented to maintain silence and avoid disruptions with rules about lights and noises.

Interestingly, the idea of cold dorms isn’t entirely new. “Most of these chapter houses were constructed ages ago with these cold dorms in mind,” she said. Yet, when facilities undergo renovations, they often shift to more typical dorm setups.

Universities like Florida State, Purdue, Indiana, and Washington have garnered attention on platforms like TikTok and Instagram for their distinct cold rooms. One TikTok user shared insights about the “sorority sleeping pouch” at Florida State, recounting experiences from their time there.

Another member noted that while her sorority had its own rooms, they were encouraged to sleep on the sleeping porches for safety reasons—a reference to infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, often highlighted to stress the importance of such arrangements.

There’s a sense of humor about it too. Some women expressed how they had learned to cope with the environment, saying the pouches were predominantly quiet and understood to be just for sleeping.

The comments section on TikTok has turned into a lively discussion, with many adding their two cents about their own experiences. A notable comment was, “Honestly, a cold dorm sounds like my ideal sleep scenario.” A participant from Washington acknowledged the early morning alarms from others sleeping nearby.

Another user chimed in, “When one person got sick, it felt like the entire house followed suit.” It seems this is a sentiment shared by many who were trapped in those cold dorm situations.

One TikTok video titled “Cold Air Dorms” gained traction, racking up nearly 50,000 likes. The creator shared her tales from Purdue University, commenting on how beautiful the sorority house looked from outside but how space was at a premium inside.

“For those who haven’t experienced it, Midwest colleges can be quite a revelation,” she remarked. Describing the rooms, she pointed out that they’re basically large, dark spaces filled with multiple bunk beds.

Users are sharing jokes about how comfy these arrangements were, often leading them to oversleep past early classes. “I really enjoyed them! It was so dark and peaceful,” one user reminisced.

As discussions spiral, many are left wondering about the safety of these sleeping pouches, especially regarding fire regulations. “With a fire, it could be chaotic,” one user cautioned, while another expressed a sense of longing for their own sleeping pouch.