Terminology and Alphabet

Knowing the Community and Learning the Language

Terminology

The Greek community has a language all its own. Here are some common terms you may hear:

Alumnus/Alumna (plural: alumni/alumnae)

An initiated member who is no longer in college.

Big Sister or Brother (also called Sister-Mother/Sister-Daughter)

The new member will select or be assigned an initiated member to be his/her big brother or sister. This older member serves as a resource, role model, and mentor for the new member.

Badge/Pin

The badge or pin is worn on the chest designating an initiated member of a certain fraternity. A new member or associate pin is usually simpler and is used to designate a new member or associate member of a particular fraternity.

Bid

A formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.

Bid Day

The last day of recruitment which includes activities at the chapter house.

Chapter

The local group of the (inter)national fraternity or sorority.

Chapter/Alumnus Advisor

An alumnus who establishes and maintains an advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher and counselor.

Continuous Open Recruiting (COR) or Continuous Recruitment (CR)

Some Panhellenic affiliated chapters continue to recruit and pledge women throughout the school year.

Faculty Advisor

A member of the faculty or administration who establishes and maintains an advisory relationship with a chapter and its scholarship program. The Faculty Advisor is not necessarily an initiate of the particular Greek organization.

Formal Recruitment

The major period of time set aside by the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils for meeting potential new members.

Fraternity

Formally, the name applied to all Greek letter organizations. Informally, the name applied to men's groups.

Greek Alumni Council (GAC)

The alumni association at WPI responsible for promoting and maintaining a strong and informed alumni body.

Greek Week

A week of events in which all chapters participate designed to create pride in Greek membership.

Informal or Open Recruitment

Recruitment period conducted at various times during the year.

Infraction

Any violation of a rule set by the Panhellenic Council or Interfraternity Council.

Initiation/Crossing

A ceremony that brings a new member into full membership.

Intake

A period during which an aspirant pursues membership in an organization.

Interfraternity Council (IFC)

The governing body of the North American Interfraternity Conference fraternities.

Legacy

A man whose father, brother, or in some cases grandfather is an initiated member of a fraternity. A woman whose mother, sister, or in some cases grandmother is an initiated member of a sorority. Legacy stipulations differ for each sorority and fraternity.

Line

Individuals participating in intake with a fraternity or sorority. Used primarily among NPHC, NALFO, NAPA, and NMGC organizations.

North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)

A national organization composed of men's fraternities, each of which is autonomous as a social Greek - letter society of college men and alumni.

National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)

A national organization comprised of historically Latino fraternities & sororities.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)

A national organization composed of 26 member women's fraternities, each of which is autonomous as a social Greek - letter society of college women and alumnae.

New Member/Associate Member

A potential new member who has accepted the bid (invitation to join) of a sorority or fraternity.

New Member Educator

The chapter officer who coordinates the education for the chapter's new members.

New Member Meetings

Special meetings which may be held each week for the new members; in addition to learning the history of the fraternity, new members may hear speakers on study skills, acquaintance rape, substance abuse, and other important issues.

Panhellenic Council

The governing body of NPC sororities.

Preferential Bidding

The process of mutual selection between the Panhellenic sororities and the potential new members.

Probate Show

The introduction of new members of a chapter to the Greek and campus communities. Found primarily among NALFO, NPHC, NAPA, and NMGC organizations.

Risk Management

Involves analyzing all exposures to the possibility of loss and determining how to reduce these exposures.

Quota

Specified number of potential new members each Panhellenic sorority chapter can pledge.

Potential New Member

An individual participating in the recruitment process.

Recruitment Counselors

Greek women carefully selected and trained to guide potential new members and answer any questions with regard to Panhellenic recruitment.

Sorority

A group of women joined together in friendship for leadership and academic purposes.

Greek Alphabet