| Active |
An initiated collegiate member who is currently paying
dues to an undergraduate chapter. |
| Alumna |
The graduate members of a Sorority. Plural: Alumnae.
|
| Alumnus |
The graduated members of a Fraternity. Plural: Alumni.
|
| Associate Member |
The term used to describe the period of time that
an individual is learning about the chapter. |
| Bid |
An membership invitation extended to a prospective
member. |
| Bid Day |
The last day of recruitment where a potential new
member accepts the bid to become a new member. |
| Big Brother/Big Sister |
An active member chosen to assist and advise a new
member. |
| Brother |
An initiated member of a fraternity. It is used as
a term of address when an initiated member refers to another initiated
member. |
| Chapter |
The local group of undergraduate students on a particular
campus recognized by the university and/or the (Inter)national organization.
|
| College Panhellenic Council (CPH) |
The governing body of the five National Panhellenic
Conference sororities, one National Latina sorority and one local
sorority at RIT. |
| Continuous Open Bidding |
The period in which any group may recruit and offer
bids without scheduled parties or bidding. |
| Dry Recruitment |
The practice of not serving alcoholic beverages at
recruitment functions. |
| Fraternity |
An individual men’s Greek-Letter organization. |
| GAMMA |
Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol.
A group of Greek student leaders who address the issue of misuse
and abuse of alcohol within the Greek system and develop educational
programs for the Greek community. |
| Greeks |
Fraternity and sorority members. |
| Greek Organization |
A fraternity or sorority (social, honor, or professional).
|
| Independent |
Slang for a person who is not affiliated with a fraternity
or sorority. |
| Induction |
The ceremony in which an individual begins to become
a new member of a Greek organization. |
| Initiation |
A ritual based ceremony that marks the acceptance
of a lifetime commitment to the fraternity or sorority. |
| Intake |
The term NPHC groups use when bringing in new members
into the organization. Each NPHC chapter determines when they will
conduct intake. |
| Interfraternity Council (IFC) |
The governing body of the 13 NIC fraternities, 1 National
Latino fraternity and one local fraternity. |
| Legacy |
Someone who’s mother, father, sister or brother is
a member of a particular Greek-letter organization. Being a legacy
does not guarantee membership. |
| Membership Intake Process (MIP) |
The joining of a NPHC organization. These organizations
recruit members who have a certain number of college credits and
grade point average. |
| Mixer |
A themed party between a fraternity and sorority.
|
| National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) |
The umbrella organization for the nine historically
African-American fraternities and sororities. |
| New Member |
A new member of a fraternity or sorority aspiring
to become an initiated member. |
| New Member Educator |
A sister or brother responsible for overseeing the
development of new members and their preparation for initiation.
This individual serves as a liaison between the new members and
the chapter. |
| Order of Omega |
A national honor society for Greek members who demonstrate
outstanding leadership and superior academic performance. |
| Philanthropy |
An effort to promote human welfare. Philanthropic
activity is one of the foundations of Greek-letter organizations.
|
| Pinning |
See Induction. |
| Potential New Member |
A non-member who is eligible to participate in the
recruitment process, visiting Greek organizations with an interest
in possibility affiliating with one organization. |
| Recruitment |
The organized period of selecting prospective new
members. It is a mutual selection process. |
| Recruitment Counselor |
An upper class member from a fraternity or sorority
chosen and trained to assist during Formal Recruitment events and
to advise potential new members throughout the process. |
| Rho Lambda |
The National Panhellenic Recognition Honor Society.
Membership is available to both CPH and NPHC sororities. |
| RUSH |
See Recruitment. |
| Sister |
An initiated member of a sorority. It is used as a
form of address when one initiated member refers to another member.
|
| Sorority |
An individual women’s Greek organization. |
| Step Show |
A function where the members or new members of an
organization perform synchronized steps. |
| Strict Silence |
This pertains only to CPH organizations. During this
time, sorority women are not allowed to discuss anything about Recruitment
or individual sororities with potential new members except during
scheduled recruitment parties. |
