Greek Terminology
Fraternity & Sorority members sometimes use terminology that may seem a bit confusing. Here are some common terms used by Greek members and their definitions:
Active:
A member of a
fraternity or sorority who has been initiated and is currently an undergraduate
in college.
Alumna/Alumnae:
An initiated member
of a sorority who has received her undergraduate degree.
Alumnus/Alumni:
An initiated member
of a fraternity who has received his undergraduate degree.
Bid:
A formal invitation
to join a sorority or fraternity.
Big Brother or Sister:
An older member
assigned to assist a new member in his or her college transition.
Brother:
A term used within
men’s fraternities when referring to other members.
Call:
Audible sounds used,
typically used by MGC and NPHC members, to acknowledge or gain the attention of
other members.
Chapter:
A chartered
undergraduate or alumni group that is recognized by the inter/national
fraternity or sorority.
Formal Recruitment:
A structured period
set aside (typically 1-2 weeks in the Spring semester) where potential members
and chapters participate in a mutual selection process to match potential
members with IFC and PHC chapters.
Frater(s):
Member(s) of the same
fraternity. The term, Frat, is sometimes used in NPHC in reference to any
fraternity man.
Greek Row:
Greek Row at UTA is where many of our UTA Fraternity and Sororities
have housing. There are currently nine organizations with housing on Greek
Row.
Hand Sign:
Symbol or gesture
made with the hand(s) that signify membership in a particular organization,
usually MGC or NPHC chapters. Hand signs are special to members of that
organization and should not be replicated by non-members.
Informal/Open Recruitment:
The unstructured
recruitment process by which fraternities and sororities take members
throughout the academic year. NOTE: Recruitment is not typically a
practice for MGC or NPHC.
Informational:
A meeting to provide
membership information to prospective members. Also referred to as an
interest meeting. (This is mostly done by MGC & NPHC groups)
Initiation:
The formal Ritual
that brings new members into full membership of the sorority or fraternity.
Through initiation, members learn and pledge themselves to uphold the ideals of
the sorority or fraternity.
Interfraternity Council (IFC):
The governing body of
all North-American Interfraternity Conference fraternities.
Legacy:
A prospective member
whose parent, sibling, or grandparent is an alumnae/alumni or active of a
sorority or fraternity.
Line:
The persons who were
initiated together. The terms is primarily used in MGC and NPHC
organizations.
Line Brothers/Sisters:
Persons that were a
part of the same initiation (membership) process, at the same time and in the
same chapter. Each person usually obtains a number during initiation,
which is referred to as a Line Number. Primarily used in MGC and NPHC
organizations.
Membership Intake:
The process of
acquiring membership into a NPHC organization. NOTE: Analogous to the
recruitment process.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC):
The governing body of
historically Black sororities and fraternities, sometimes referred to as the Divine Nine, being
derived from the nine organizations that make up the council.
Neophyte:
A new member of an
NPHC organization during his/her first year of membership.
New Member:
A woman or man who
has accepted a fraternity or sorority bid, but has not been initiated.
New Member Education Period:
The period of time
before initiation when new members learn about their fraternity or sorority.
Panhellenic Council (PHC):
The governing body
for all National Panhellenic Conference sororities.
Philanthropy:
Fund-raising projects
sponsored by fraternities or sororities supporting local and inter/national
charitable organizations.
Potential Members:
A person
participating in recruitment or intake.
Recommendation (Rec.):
A letter or statement written by an alumna to
the chapter of her sorority on this campus recommending a potential member for
bid offering. It is the responsibility of the sorority to obtain the “recs.,”
but the potential member may also ask an alumna to write a letter.
Recruitment Counselor:
A PHC sorority member
who has disaffiliated with her sorority (for a short period of time) during
recruitment, to assist potential members through the formal recruitment
process.
Sands:
Persons that were initiated
together at the same time (i.e. Fall 2001), not necessarily a chapter. Primarily used in NPHC organizations.
Sister:
A term used within
sororities when referring to other members.
Soror(s):
Member(s) of the same sorority. Sometimes used in
NPHC functions to refer to any sorority woman.
Step Show:
A Black Greek
function characterized by synchronized hand an foot movements, along with
singing, dancing, chanting, and acting.
Strolling/Strutting/Party Walking:
Coordinated movements
done in a line by NPHC and MGC organizations to show unity. It is often
demonstrated at social gatherings or during step shows.
Week:
Period of times when a Black Greek-letter
organization sponsors a variety of events for the campus. May include
educational programs, discussions or debates, variety shows, parties, and step
shows. Sometimes they are referred to as Founders’ Week. NOTE: Analogous to the philanthropic weeks of IFC and PHC.