Active: A member of a fraternity or sorority who has been initiated and is currently a college student.

Alumnus/Graduate Member/Alumni: An initiated fraternity member who has graduated from college. Alumni is plural and describes a group of men or a group of men and women.

Badge: A piece of jewelry that designates affiliation to a fraternity or sorority.

Bid– formal offer from a fraternity to a potential new member to join their house, you can receive more than one bid

Big Brother or Sister: An older initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a mentor to a younger member providing guidance and advice.

Brother: A term used within men’s fraternities when referring to other members.

Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural-based fraternities or sororities to acknowledge one another.

CBFO: culturally-based fraternal organizations

Chapter: A local organization of the larger national or international organization, designated by Greek letters.

Crossing: ceremony, during which new members of culturally-based organizations become active members

FSL: The fraternity and sorority life community.

FSL Fest– a week-long event that includes special games, events, activities, games, social gatherings, education, awards, and philanthropy for all Greek Life members

Hand Sign: Symbol or gesture made with the hand(s) that signify membership in a particular organization. Hand signs are special to members of that organization and should not be replicated by non-members.

House Corporation: A legal entity holding title to, or leasing, any real property (land and buildings) for a chapter’s living/meeting purposes. This housing corporation has basic responsibilities relative to property ownership and maintenance.

Initiation: The formal ritual ceremony that brings new members into full membership of the sorority or fraternity. Through initiation, members learn and pledge themselves to the ideals of the sorority and fraternity.

Interim/Provisional Chapter: Status of a new chapter prior to installation as an official chapter.

International/National Headquarters: The central office of a particular fraternity or sorority. This office oversees the local chapters across the country.

Legacy– a student who has a member of their family that is currently a member of the fraternity they are looking at

Line: new members of culturally-based organizations that join at the same time

Line Name/Number: nickname given to members of a culturally-based organization/order of intake

Neo/Neophyte: new member of a culturally-based organization

New Member/Associate: A member of an IFC fraternity or Panhellenic sorority who has accepted a fraternity or sorority bid but has not been initiated.

New Member Education– a three-week period where those who accept their bids will learn the history and traditions of their respective houses.  All new members will also be educated on alcohol safety, hazing, and sexual assault prevention

NIC (North American Interfraternity Conference): Governing body for 72 international/national men’s fraternities and alumni associations. The NIC serves to enrich the fraternity experience through advancement and growth of the fraternity community.

NMGC (National Multicultural Greek Council): An umbrella organization for 13 international/national men’s and women’s fraternities and sororities. Each member group is autonomous as a social Greek-lettered society.

NPC (National Panhellenic Conference): An umbrella organization for 26 international/national women’s fraternities and sororities. Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-lettered society of women and alumnae.

Order of Omega– National honor society for fraternity/sorority members with exceptional grades and outstanding leadership abilities

Panhellenic Council– sorority equivalent of the Interfraternity Council

Potential New Member: An undergraduate woman or man who is participating in IFC or Panhellenic recruitment.

Probate: public crossing for CBFOs

Recruitment– the period of new member exploration, a chance for fraternities to get to know men who are interested in joining their fraternity

Ritual– events, usually secret in nature, that make each fraternity unique.  Rituals are the same for all chapters of a given fraternity which creates a bond between our chapters and brothers from across the country and world

Stroll/Stepping: dancing/stepping to celebrate their cultural heritage

 

GREEK ALPHABET:

A ………………..Alpha (al-fah)	N………………..Nu (new)
B ………………..Beta (bay-tah)	X………………..Xi (zeye)
G ………………..Gamma (Gam-ah)	O………………..Omicron (ohm-e-cron)
D ………………..Delta (del-tah)	P………………..Pi (pie)
E ………………..Epsilon (ep-si-lon)	R…………………Rho (row)
Z ………………..Zeta (zay-tah)	S………………..Sigma (sig-mah)
H ………………..Eta (ay-tah)	T………………..Tau (taw)
Q ………………..Theta (thay-tah)	U………………..Upsilon (yoop-si-lon)
I ………………….Iota (eye-o-tah)	F………………..Phi (fie)
K ………………..Kappa (cap-ah)	C…………………Chi (ki)
L ………………..Lambda (lam-duh)	Y…………………Psi (sigh)
M ………………..Mu (mew)	W………………..Omega (o-mega)