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Greek Alphabet
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Fraternity and Sorority Life Terminology
Active: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is affiliated with a campus chapter.
Alumnus: An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who is no longer in college.
Anchor/Tail: The last person in the intake class for a culturally based fraternity or sorority (usually organized from shortest to tallest). 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 fraternity sorority. Brother: a term used when referring to other members of a fraternity. Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural based fraternities and sororities to acknowledge one another. Captain/Ace: The first person in an intake class for a culturally based fraternity or sorority (usually organized from shortest to tallest). Chapter: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority. College Panhellenic Council (CPC): the local governing body for the member chapter that are also affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
Colony: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority in a new organization on the campus.
Crossing: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate that a new member has been fully initiated into the group. Greek Week: An annual celebration held in the spring in which chapters participate in athletic events, community service, brotherhood and sisterhood activities. Informational: A forum for individuals interested in seeking more information about a particular NPHC fraternity or sorority. Initiation: A traditional, secret ceremony that brings a new member into full fraternity or sorority membership. Intake: The term groups used to bring new members into an NPHC organization. Each chapter determines when they will conduct intake and is assisted in this process by their Graduate Chapter and Chapter Advisor (a group of local alumni). Interfraternity Council (IFC): the local governing body for the member chapters that are also affiliated with the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Legacy: A potential member whose grandparent, parent, brother or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority. National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): the national governing body for the nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities. NPHC of Longwood University is the local governing council. New Member: A potential member who has accepted a bid from a fraternity or sorority. May also be referred to as an “associate,” or “neophyte." New Member Show: A term used by NPHC groups to designate the time when new members of such groups come out/present themselves to the campus. Those joining an NPHC organization are generally not known and thus it is a time when the new members are revealed. Non-affiliated: Those Longwood students not involved with an inter/national fraternity or sorority.
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 within the fraternity and sorority community. Philanthropy: activities or events that are specific to the chapter's specific charitable organization(s) and to which they donate money. Potential New Member (PNM): An individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority. Quota: The number of women to whom each College Panhellenic Council sorority may extend bids. Recruitment: Refers to the process by which CPC and IFC chapters select new members. Ritual: The traditional, secret ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority. Step Show: A festive event in which members of an organization or several organizations perform synchronized, rhythmic steps while chanting lyrics to show pride and spirit for their organization. Yard: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate the campus with which they are affiliated. |
