greek terms

Active

A fully initiated member of a fraternity/sorority.

Alumna

A member of a women’s fraternal organization who is no longer an

undergraduate. Plural: Alumnae.

Alumnus

A member of a men’s fraternal organization who is no longer an

undergraduate. Plural: Alumni.

Bid

An invitation to join a sorority or fraternity. It is also a formal invitation to be

a potential new member.

Big

Nickname for big sister or brother, a mentor assigned to a new member.

Many organizations have special names for these pairings.

Chant/Call

A call used by members of culturally based organizations used to

acknowledge or gain the attention of others.

Chapter

An established membership unit of a national or international sorority

or fraternity.

Charter

Known as a “trial period” for a new organization that is awaiting official

Chapter Status recognition from their national to establish a letter chapter on

their campus.

Crest

Insignia used by sorority and fraternity members. Most Greek

organizations reserve the crest for initiated members only. Each crest has

hidden, secret meanings behind it. Also known as a coat or arms, shield or

armorial bearings.

Initiation

Ceremony during which new members of culturally-based and NPHC

organizations become active, life-long members of their organization. Formal

term: Initiation

Disaffiliated Member

A student who for some reason removes himself or herself from association with the fraternity and drops membership completely.

Separated

A student who withdraws or separates from an organization after accepting a bid, but before the student is initiated by a chapter. Also referred to as Depledging.

Dry Process

A fraternity or sorority which does not permit alcohol through the

new member education process

Dues

The monetary costs of membership in a fraternity or sorority. These fees

are used to cover the costs of member dues, insurance, line shirts, and bid

ceremony.

Founder’s Day

An event celebrated by fraternities and sororities to highlight the

founding of their organization and celebrate its history. It's not necessarily held

on the day the organization was founded.

Formal Recruitment

A designated recruitment period during which a series of organized events are held by each NPC sorority or IFC fraternity.

Governing Council

Also known as an umbrella council, generally supports and

acts as a voice for organizations within it, including being the official sponsored

student organization as liaison between the university and the members of the

member organizations. For example, DPO is under the Multicultural Greek

Council (“MGC”).

Hazing

Hazing is any requirement by a member which compels a member or

new member to participate in any activity which is illegal, is contrary to moral

or religious beliefs, or is contrary to the rules and regulations of the

sorority/fraternity, institution of learning, and civil authorities.

Legacy

Each organization has its own definition of a "legacy." It is generally

defined as an immediate family member of an initiated member, such as a

sister/brother or daughter/son. Some sororities also recognize extended family

members as legacies as well.

Line

A term used by culturally-based and NPHC organizations to name a group

of new members who all joined during the same term, semester, or pledge

class. They are the potential new members of the organization. Lines are often

given names.

Line name/number

The name given to a prospective/new member that

represents them as a person. Culturally based organizations and NPHC

organizations also assign a line number to their new members (such as ace,

deuce, tre, etc.)

Little

Short for "Little brother/sister" - a new member who is being mentored

by an older member of their organization

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

The governing body of the nine

traditionally African American fraternities and sororities, also known as the

"Divine Nine."

Nationals

Fraternity and Sorority members often refer to their

national/international headquarters or offices as "Nationals". These offices are

responsible for making policies for the individual organizations at all of the

colleges and universities where their organization recruits members.

Neo or Neophyte

A new member of a culturally based organization or a NPHC

organization. New members remain ‘neos’ until their first crossing anniversary.

New Member Educator

The liaison between the new members and the

chapter, they are responsible for implementing and monitoring the new

member program and preparing the new members for initiation. For DPO, this

is your Dean and ADP. Sometimes it is the Program Director.

New Member Presentation

Also known as a reveal show, is a presentation that

celebrates and welcomes new members in the Multicultural Greek community

or NPHC Community.

Pin

the active pin or badge, a distinctive insignia worn on the chest designating

an active member of a particular fraternity or sorority.

Potential New Member

A person who is interested in joining a Greek-letter

organization, and will participate in recruitment or intake; often abbreviated to

PNM.

Prophyte

A term used to refer to an older brother/sister from a culturally based

organization, someone who is active and had their one year crossing

anniversary..