‘Last year they got Beis tote bags’: Woman’s sorority gives graduating seniors a parting gift. She opens hers and immediately starts crying

A senior at the University of Alabama opens her graduation gift from her sorority, Alpha Phi. She expects to see a luxury gift, like those previously received by graduating classes. However, what she gets sparks outrage in her sorority, leading members to confront the admin.

In a video with over 1.5 million views, TikToker Ava (@avastelmak) wears a graduation stole and holds up a package.

“Last year they got BEIS tote bags, and I know the GPhis this year got Tiffany champagne flutes,” she says. A BEIS tote bag costs around $150, and Tiffany champagne flutes go for $110 for a set of two.

She unwraps the plastic packaging of the gift and peeks inside. Her jaw drops as she pulls out a monogrammed packing cube.

“Is this for real?” she asks. “I’m going to cry. I’m not trying to be ungrateful, but the senior gifts are supposed to be something you can really look back on.”

Ava shares that the graduating members of Alpha Phi wrote messages in the group chat with the sorority’s admin to ask why the gifts weren’t up to par with previous years. Then, she gets a notification that the admin has removed their concerned messages from the group chat.

“They turned off the messaging so we could no longer talk about it,” she says.

What do viewers think the sorority members should do?

In the comments of the viral TikTok, viewers urge Ava and other sorority members to ask more questions about the usage of the chapter’s funds. Sorority dues can be hundreds of dollars every semester, with funds intended for chapter events, gifts, and charitable missions.

“I would be looking to where y’all’s money went because it looks like someone mismanaged funding,” one writes.

“By the way, senior gifts are paid for by the sorority, they are included in the annual budget, the budget that they build based on member dues collected,” another points out. “So before you all think that she is being materialistic (she’s not) you literally pay for your own gift in a way.”

A third adds, “I would be requesting an audit of financials.”

Others say the lack of thought put into the gift compared to previous years is the biggest issue.

A commenter says, “It’s obviously not about the price. If you pay tens of thousands in dues you can afford your own tote bag or Tiffany necklace. It’s the fact that it’s supposed to be a gift, part of a tradition.”

“Packing cubes as a grad gift feels like a ‘get out’ message,” a second remarks.

@avastelmak Grateful to have gotten anything but definitely and interesting message. #universityofalabama #bamarush #alabamaalphaphi #alphaphi #greenscreen ♬ Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64, Act 1: Dance of the Knights – André Previn

Did her sorority respond to the senior members’ concerns?

In a follow-up video, Ava says that members sent a group email to the sorority’s advisor expressing their frustration.

“A bunch of the gifts came broken or with the wrong monograms,” she explains. “They ended up telling us that there’s an extra $2000 in the senior gift budget.”

Ava says the sorority advisor agreed to put the extra funds towards the graduating seniors. The members requested that the funds be split evenly on Amazon gift cards. They received the gift cards over a month after agreeing on the solution.

“It was never about the money,” she clarifies. “I honestly just felt like they didn’t put any time or effort or thought into any of this.”

In a comment, Ava says she won’t be paying alumni sorority dues following the situation.

The Mary Sue reached out to Ava via TikTok direct message and comment and to Alpha Phi via email. We will update the story when they reply.

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