Terminology

Active: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is affiliated with a campus chapter.

Alumna: A graduated member of a Women's sorority/fraternity (plural is alumnae).

Alumnus: A graduated member of a Men's fraternity (plural is alumni).

Badge: The badge of an initiated member is received during the initiation ceremony and worn in a designated location.

Bid: A formal invitation for membership from a Greek-letter organization.

Big Brother/Sister: An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a sponsor, advisor or special friend to a new member, guiding them through their new member program or initiation.

Brother: A term used by fraternity members to refer to one another.

Call: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another.

Chapter: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority.

Colony: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority in a new organization on the campus.

Crossed: The actual date of initiation into a cultural Greek organization.

Dues: Monthly or semesterly costs of being in a fraternity or sorority.

Greeks: A term applied to members affiliated with Greek-letter organizations.

Greek Week: An annual celebration held in the spring in which chapters participate in athletic events, community service, brotherhood and sisterhood activities, an awards ceremony and various.

Initiation: A traditional, secret ceremony that brings a new member into full Greek membership.

Intake: The educational process that one goes through in order to become an NPHC member.

Interfraternity Council (IFC): IFC is the governing body of all six fraternities chartered/colonized at Wofford. This organization provides leadership and programming for the chapters.

Legacy: A potential member whose grandparent, parent, brother or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority.

Line: The members of a cultural Greek organization new member class.

New Member: A potential member who has accepted a bid from a fraternity or sorority. May also be referred to as an "associate".

Neophyte: A new member of a cultural Greek organization.

Non-affiliated: Those Wofford students not involved with an inter/national Greek-letter organization. Often referred to as "independents".

Order of Omega: Members are juniors and seniors who are initiated members of a fraternity or sorority and have attained a high standard of leadership and scholarship in the Greek Community.

Panhellenic Council (PHC): PHC is the governing body of all four sororities’ charter at Wofford. This organization provides leadership and programming for the chapters.

Philanthropy: A community service and/or fund-raising project sponsored by a chapter.

Potential Member: An individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority.

Probate/New Member Step Exhibition: A stepping routine put on by the new members of an organization to signify their accomplishments.

Recruitment: Refers to the process by which chapters select new members.

Ritual: The traditional, secret initiation ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority.

Recruitment Counselor (Gamma Chi): A representative from a sorority that aids female potential members in their formal recruitment process.

Sister: A term used by sorority members to refer to one another.

Stepping: An elaborate performance involving dance, marching and the traditional culture of an organization.

Stroll: A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizaitons (Usually at a party or step