Sorority girls say this Greek tradition gave them the best sleep of their lives — why it worked
With the new school year underway for colleges in the South and Midwest, #rushtok has taken over many a TikTok feed — and has some former sorority girls reminiscing about their unusual sleeping arrangements.
While 'cold rooms' might not look like the most comfortable place to catch some Z's, several ex Kappas, Deltas and other letters of the Greek alphabet insist it's where they got some of the best sleep of their lives.
So-called 'cold rooms' are common at sororities and fraternities at some universities. Filled with bunk beds, they look somewhat similar to hostels (pictured) — though they're kept super cold and dark at all times.
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Cold rooms — also called cold dorms or sleeping porches — are rooms in frats or sorority houses that are filled with lots of bunk beds, similar to military barracks.
According to House Beautiful, they're common at schools like Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Washington.
Designated for sleeping only, they are typically kept dark — think blackout curtains and minimal lighting — and at super low temperatures, with the AC turned way up. They can usually be found in attics, basements or enclosed porches.
'It's basically one big room that's really cold, really dark, and filled with bunk beds,' Jade, a Kappa Kappa Gamma at Perdue, explained on TikTok. 'You were assigned a bed and you made it the coziest little spot — you make it so dark and cozy that you wanna skip all of your 7:30s and if you were me, you did.'
Jamie, another Kappa Kappa Gamma, said the lights were never turned on in hers.
Unsurprisingly, quite a few commenters on TikTok have been unimpressed with the photos they've seen, with one comparing them to 'orphanages you would see in movies based in the early 1900s.'
'No amount of wanting to fit in could get me to sleep in there,' wrote another, while a third chimed in: 'This sounds like pure torture.'
But from those who have actually slept in them, there seems to be never-ending praise, with several calling it 'the best sleep ever' and 'the best sleep of my life.'
'Cold room was the BEST! Soundest sleep I ever had. Mine was right by the window and I loved everything about it,' wrote one.
'Man, I miss the sleeping porch,' added another. 'It was so cold in there, my bed was so snuggly, quiet naps any time of day… the best.'
One woman 'would do anything to have another sleeping porch nap.'
So what exactly makes the sleep so good? According to Dr. Dennis Auckley, Director of Center for Sleep Medicine for MetroHealth, there are 'definitely some upsides to this type of sleeping arrangement' — especially the cold temps and darkness.
Former sorority girls say they got the best sleep ever while sleeping in cold dorms.
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
'Sleep should ideally take place in a cool environment. This is because the brain and our core body temperature need to decrease to help facilitate sleep,' he told The Post. 'Cooler environments generally enhance deep, or slow-wave, sleep, which is the most restorative state.'
You also want a dark environment, he said: 'Many of these cold air dorms use blackout curtains to keep it very dark. That is good and will help facilitate sleep.'
He also noted possible psychological benefits of communal sleeping, like feelings of inclusion and safety.
There are, though, some downsides, like noise — from people coming and going, alarms going off, or someone snoring — or lights being turned on.
'These will fragment sleep and lead to poor overall quality of sleep, and potentially shortened sleep duration,' he said. 'In addition, if some individuals come to the cold dorm bed and stay on their phones (doing whatever), creating light distractions, this can interfere with the sleep of others.
Sleep quality aside, a large number of people spending hours together in close quarters can also increase the risk of spreading respiratory infections, especially viruses like the flu.
If you want to replicate the magic of a cold dorm at home — without the potential downsides — Auckley says you're in luck. These factors all contribute to a good night's sleep.
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