Greek Terminology

A

• Ace: The first person in an intake class for a culturally-based fraternity or sorority. (Usually organized shortest to tallest)
• Active: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is affiliated with the campus chapter.
• Alumnus: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is no longer in college.

B

• Badge: The badge of an initiated member is received during the initiation ceremony and worn in designated locations.
• Bid: A formal invitation for membership from a fraternity or sorority.
• Brother: A term used when referring to other members of a fraternity.

C

• Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of culturally-based fraternities and sororities to acknowledge one another.
• 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 is 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.
• Crossed: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate that a new member has been fully initiated into the group.

D

E

F

G

• Greek Alphabet:
  
• Greek Week: An annual celebration held in the spring in which chapters participate in athletic events, community service, brotherhood and sisterhood activities.

H

I

• 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: A 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).
• Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC): The local governing body for the member chapters that are also affiliated with the North-American Interfraternity Conference (IFC).

J

K

L

• Legacy: A potential member whose Grandparent, Parent, brother or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority.
• Line: An NPHC term somewhat equal to a pledge/new member class. They are the potential new members of the organization. Lines are often given names
• Line Name: The name given to a new member that defines them

M

• Membership Recruitment: The mutual selection process that prospective members and chapter members go through during the recruitment period to get to know one another.

N

• 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 Presentation: 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.

O

• 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.

P

• Paraphernalia: Also known as “para” or “nalia” The different items of Greek clothing or accessories, which display the organization's letters.
• 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.

Q

• Quota: The number of women to whom each College Panhellenic Council sorority may extend bids.

R

• Recruitment: Refers to the process by which CPC and IFC chapters select new members.
• Ritual: Traditional, secret ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority.

S

• Sands: A member of your organization or another culturally based organization that was initiated at the same time you were.
• Soror: Term used to refer to a sister in an NPHC or Multicultural organization
• 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.
• Stepping: A historically black tradition characterized by synchronized hand foot movements, along with singing, dancing, chanting, and acting.
• Strolling: A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations; usually done at a party or step show.

T

• Tail: The last person in the intake class for a culturally based fraternity or sorority. (Usually organized from shortest to tallest)

U

V

W

X

Y

Yard: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate the campus with which they are affiliated.

Z