Common Greek Terms

Active: an initiated member in good standing who is still enrolled as an undergraduate

Alumna: a sorority member who has graduated from college (plural is "alumnae")

Alumnus: a fraternity member who has graduated from college (plural is "alumni")

Badge: see also, "Pin." The insignia that designates your Greek organization

Bid: a formal invitation to join a Greek organization

Big: Short for "big sister" or "big brother"; an active member who serves as a mentor for newer members

Brother: a term used when referring to other members of a fraternity

Chapter: (1) name for the local organization of an inter/national fraternity or sorority, e.g. The Alpha Alpha chapter of Omega Omega Sorority . (2) slang term for weekly meeting of a fraternity or sorority, e.g. We'll vote on that at Chapter.

Continuous Open Bidding (COB): A process that occurs after formal recruitment concludes which affords the opportunity for chapters to invite women to membership if they did not meet their quota in formal recruitment or has not reached total

Continuous Recruitment (CR or "Fall Recruitment"): A process which allows chapters to invite women to membership in the fall and Centre terms, provide the chapter has not reached total

Fraternity Leadership Association (FLA): a representative body of six men's fraternal organizations

Greek 099: An introduction to recruitment and new member expectations. This is a program presented before recruitment begins and is mandatory for all persons wishing to accept bids in the spring

Greek 101: An introduction to the fraternity and sorority experience. This is a program facilitated by active brothers and sisters in the spring and intended to provide education and a positive start to your new member experience

Greek Week: a special week each year where all the Greeks come together. This week includes such events as the Greek Olympics and Spring Sing

Initiation: the traditional ritual which brings new members into full membership

Interfraternity Council (IFC): the representative body governing fraternities at Centre

Legacy: a prospective member who has a family member in the same fraternity or sorority

Little: Short for "little sister" or "little brother"; a newer member who is mentored by an older member of the organization

National Interfraternity Conference (NIC): the representative body of many national men's fraternities. The NIC has 68 member organizations

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): the representative body of national sororities and women's fraternities. The NPC has 26 member organizations

New Member/Associate: see also, "Pledge." a member who has not been initiated

Quota: the number of new members determined by a college Panhellenic council, which any Greek chapter may pledge during a specific time

Panhellenic Council (PANHEL): the representative body governing sororities and women's fraternities at Centre

Pledge: see also, "New Member/Associate." a member who has not been initiated. Starting in the mid to late 1990's, the term "pledge" was replaced with "new member or associate member" by many natioanl organizations

Pin: see also, "Badge." The insignia that designates your Greek organization

Recommendation ("Rec"): a written letter or statement recommending a potential new member to an organization

Recruitment: the process of joining a fraternity or sorority. Centre participates in Deferred Recruitement, meaning the formal process is conducted in the spring semester. Alternative models of recruitment include Fall Recruitment (usually done before fall term begins or the first week fall term) and Delayed Recruitment (also conducted in the fall, but delayed a number of weeks)

Rho Gamma: a "Recruitment Guide" who temporarily disaffiliates to assist potential members through the recruitment process

Ritual: the traditional ceremonites of a chapter, which are usually secret

Rush: see Recruitment. The term "rush" refers to the historical practice where students would hurry to join fraternities at the beginning of the school year in large part to find housing. Often chapter members would "rush" to train stations, pinning ribbons bearing their colors on potential new members as a sign that no other group could have them. Starting in the mid to late 1990's, the term "rush" was replaced with "recruitment" by many national organizations

Sister: a term used when referring to other members of a sorority or women's fraternity

Silence: not discussing recruitment with sorority members outside of the recruitment events

Strict Silence: having no contact with sorority members after preference and before Bid Day

Total: The allowable chapter size, including both new and initiated members, as determined by the college Panhellenic council. The current Panhellenic total is 75. Chapters may only exceed total through the process of formal recruitment in the spring