Copy of `Greek Life - Glossary of American fraternity terms`

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Greek Life - Glossary of American fraternity terms Category: Education > Glossary of American fraternity terms Date & country: 17/11/2010, USA Words: 30

Active
A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level.

Bid
A formal invitation to join a particular sorority or fraternity

Big Brother or Big Sister
An active member who serves as a mentor to a New Member during their New Member Program.

Call
A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of NPHC and cultural-based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another.

Chapter
The local group of a larger national organization, and designated by a special name, or Greek letters

Crossed
The actual date of initiation into a NPHC or cultural-based sorority or fraternity.

Divine Nine
Term used to describe the nine NPHC affiliate organizations. Also the title of the book that chronicles the history of NPHC groups.

Formal Panhellenic Recruitment
A series of events given by each sorority that are designed to introduce sorority life to potential new members. Formal Panhellenic Recruitment is scheduled by the Panhellenic Council.

Greek Ambassador
A trained fraternity or sorority member who serves as a resource to new students in the area of fraternity and sorority recruitment. Panhellenic GAs have disaffiliated herself from their chapter during Formal Panhellenic Recruitment in order to counsel and assist women in make informed decisions during recruitment.

Grip
Secret handshake exchanged by members

House Director
A person hired by the housing corporation board to live in the chapter house and supervise the day-to-day activities of live-in members.

Initiation
The formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership. Each chapter has a different set of requirements in order to be initiated.

Interfraternity Council (IFC)
The governing body for 17 of the fraternities at Vanderbilt University.

International/National Headquarters
The central organization of a particular fraternity or sorority.

Intramurals
Athletic programs administered by Recreational Sports in which members from different chapters form teams and compete in sporting matches.

Legacy
A prospective member whose grandparent, parent, or sibling is an alumnus of, or active in, a particular fraternity or sorority. The exact definition varies from one chapter to another. Each chapter or inter/national organization has its own policy regarding legacies. Please note that most organizations are not obligated to pledge or extend bids to legacies.

Line
Term used to describe the members of a new member class in NPHC and cultural-based Greek organizations

Membership Intake
The process that NPHC and cultural-based Greek chapters utilize to recruit, interview, select, and initiate new members. The period of membership intake varies from chapter to chapter, but can not exceed 10 weeks.

Neophyte
A member of the last line to cross in the local chapter of a NPHC or cultural-based organization.

New Member
A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated.

New Member Program
A period of education when new members learn the history, ideals, and values of fraternity and sorority life. The time frame of the New Member program varies for each chapter but can not exceed 10 weeks.

Philanthropy/Benefit
A charitable fundraiser sponsored by a sorority or fraternity

Pledge
See New Member

Potential New Member (PNM)
A college woman who is participating in Formal Panhellenic recruitment in the Fall.

Probate Show
The introduction of a line to campus. This is usually the first full step show/exhibition performed by members of the new member class of a NPHC or cultural-based Greek organization.

Prophyte
A seasoned member of a NPHC or cultural-based Greek organization. A neophyte becomes a prophyte after another line is initiated.

Recommendation (Rec Letter)
A personal letter of reference provided by an alumnus of national sorority or fraternity to the local chapter at Vanderbilt. Letters of recommendation are not necessary for all chapters, and do NOT guarantee a bid from a sorority or fraternity.

Recruitment (Rush) Chair
An active member of a sorority or fraternity who is in charge of all recruitment efforts for the chapter

Social
A get-together with another group for a party, dinner or fun occasion.

Stroll or party hop
A traditional dance done by members of NPHC or cultural-based Greek organizations on an informal basis. All organizations have specific strolls/hops that are part of their organizations` heritage. These strolls/hops are reserved for members only.