Common Greek Community Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

Active: A formal initiated member of a fraternity or sorority.
Alumnae: A sorority member who has graduated from college.  
Alumnus: A fraternity member who has graduated from college.
Alumni: Sorority and Fraternity membership is a lifetime association. After your graduation you will always have a group to return to for homecoming and alumni weekends. Alumni are the backbone of sororities and fraternities. The contribute experience to strengthen each chapter. They also can be contributing factors in your life and future endeavors.
Badge (pin): The insignia that designates your Greek organization.
Bid: A formal invitation to join a Greek organization.
Brother: A term used when referring to other members of a Fraternity.
Brotherhood: Intangible, yet the most cherished of assets among all Greek members,  brotherhood is the foundations of fraternity life.  It is difficult to explain, but it can be basically characterized by each fraternity's most common and identifiable element.
Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another.
Chapter: Name for the local organization of a national fraternity/sorority.
Community Service: Philanthropies provide opportunities for Greeks to participate in community and national service projects. Not all donations are monetary. Many hours of time have been donated as well. All of these experiences are very rewarding and result in a great sense of accomplishment.
Crossed: The actual date of initiation into a cultural Greek organization.  The term is used to represent the symbolic “crossing of the burning sands."
Fraternity: A Greek organization for men.
Greek: A member of a fraternity or sorority.
Greek Week: A special week each year where al the Greeks come together. This week includes both service events and fun/competitive Greek games as well.  It helps promote unity within among fraternities and sororities while showing non-Greeks all the fun to be had and the good causes Greeks support.  One winner is determined for the women's groups, and one for the men's. 
Interfraternity Council (IFC): The representative student-body governing and including all men's fraternities.
Initiation: The traditional ritual, which brings the new member into full membership.
Leadership: Many leadership opportunities are available within the Greek community. Not only are officer positions available in each chapter, but also Greek affiliation opens doors to organizations all over campus.
Legacy: A prospective member who has a family member in the same fraternity or sorority.
Line: The members of a cultural Greek organization new member class.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): The representative body of national sororities, a national conference that encourages and sees campus versions as well.  A campus NPC or "panhel" is representative and inclusive of all women's fraternities (sororities).
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): The representative body governing national historically black Greek organizations.
Neophyte: A new member of a cultural Greek organization.
New Member/Associate: A member who has not been initiated.
New Member Pin: A pin that designates a new member of a Greek organization.
New Member Recruitment: The continual process of recruiting members for a Greek organization (usually IFC and NPC).
Philanthropy: The chapter’s specific charitable organization(s) that they donate money and volunteer hours.
Potential New Member (PNM): A term for men or women being recruited by a Greek organization.
Recruitment Counselor: A disaffiliated member of an organization who assists potential new members through the women's formal recruitment process.
Ritual: The traditional ceremonies of a chapter, some of which secret.  On an everyday level, ritual simply means, living one's fraternal values. 
Scholarship: The Greek system at Villanova strives for high scholarship. A minimum grad point average is required by sororities and fraternities in order to become an initiated member. Each chapter has a scholarship program to provide incentives, coordinate study hours, and to encourage members to achieve their highest academic goals.
Sister: A term used when referring to other members of a sorority.
Sisterhood: Intangible, yet the most cherished of assets among all Greek members, sisterhood is the foundations of sorority life.  It is friendship at a much higher level and has been characterized by each sorority's most common and identifiable element.
Social: The Greek system at Villanova offers a well-rounded social life, and provides the opportunity for developing lifelong friendships. Many activities are organized not only to become closer to one’s sisters and brothers, but to members of other chapters as well. Men and women get together for original theme parties, and informal or formal dances that provide many rewarding and fun memories. Social events are registered through the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, which advises and supports responsible, collegiate socializing among Greeks and their guests. 
Sorority: A Greek organization for women.
Strict Silence: Not discussing recruitment with non-sorority members outside of the recruitment events.
Stroll:  A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations (usually at a party or step show).
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