Greek Glossary

Active: A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level

Alumni/ae: Initiated fraternity/sorority members who have graduated from college.

Bid: A formal invitation to affiliate with a sorority.or fraternity

Big Brother or Bis Sister: an active member who serves as a mentor to a New Member and throughout their active Greek life

Chapter: A local group of a larger national organization, designated by a special name or Greek Letters

Divine Nine: term used to describe the nine NPHC affiliate organization. Also the title of the book that chronicles the history of NPHC groups

Gammi Chi: a trained sorority member who serves as a resource to new students in the area of Recruitment. These Panhellenic women have disaffiliated themselves from their chapter in order to counsel and assist women in making informed and unbiased decisions during Recruitment.

Greeks: sorority and fraternity members

Initiation: the formal ceremony or ritual that marks the beginning of active membership, bringing the new member into full membership

Interfraternity Council: the governing body of all North American Interfraternity Conference member fraternities. Also called IFC.

Legacy: a prospective member whose grandparent, parent or sibling is an alumnus of, or active in, a particular fraternity or sorority. The exact definition varies from one chapter to another, and each chapter or inter/national organization has its own policy regarding legacies. Please note that most organizations are not obligated to pledge or extend bids to legacies.

Line: term used to describe the members of a new member class in NPHC and cultural-based Greek organizations

Mixer 
A fraternity/sorority social get-together.

National Pan-Hellenic Council: umbrella organization for 9 Historically-Black sororities and fraternities. Also called NPHC

New Member: a member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated

New Member Educator/Member Intake Chair: the individual who is the liason between the new members and the active Chapter. They are responsible for implementing and monitoring the new member program and preparing the new members for intiation

New Member Program: a period of education when new members learn the history, ideals and values of the Greek organization from which they have accepted a bid and for which they are awaiting intiation. The time frame of the New Member program varies for each chapter but cannot exceed 10 weeks.

National Panhellenic Council: umbrella organization and representative governing body of all National Panhellenic Conference member sororities and fraternities.

Philanthropy: the non-profit organizations or charity sponsored by fraternities and sororities through contributions of their time and money.

Pin (two types) 
The active pin or badge which signifies an active member or the new member pin which is the insignia that designates a new member in a particular group.

Pledge: see New Member

Potential New Member (PNM): a college woman who is participating in Formal Panhellenic Recruitment

Quota: The number of new members each sorority may accept during formal recruitment.

Recommendation: a personal letter of reference provided by an alumnus of a sorority or fraternity to the local chapter at Wofford. These letters are not necessary for all chapters and do not guarantee a bid from any Greek organization.

Recruitment/ Rush: the series of events and activities by which members and potential members get acquainted and are chosen for potential membership

Ritual: the traditional secret ceremonies or performances done privately by initiated members

Sister: a term used by members of a sorority when referring to another initiated members of the same sorority

Social: a get-together with another group, either collaborative or via date invitation, for a party, dinner or other fun occasion