Learning the Language: Common Terms for the Sorority & Fraternity Community

• Active: a formal initiated member of a fraternity or sorority
• Alumna: a sorority member who has graduated from college
• Alumnus: a fraternity member who has graduated from college
• Badge (pin): the insignia that designates your Greek organization
• Bid: a formal invitation to join a Greek organization
• Big Brother/ Big Sister: An active member assigned to be the personal mentor for a new member.
• Brother: a term used when referring to other members of a Fraternity
• 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
• Chapter Advisor: An alumnus/alumna or faculty/staff member who serves in an advisory role to provide guidance to the organization.
• Colony: A newly formed affiliate of a national organization that has not yet received its charter. The members of a colony are referred to as "founders."
• Crossed: The actual date of initiation into a cultural Greek organization. The term is used to represent the symbolic “crossing of the burning sands”
• Exchange: A theme party with a fraternity and a sorority. A formal exchange held at the end of Recruitment Week is called a PREFERENCE PARTY or simply PREF.
• Fraternity: a Greek organization for men
• Greek: a member of a fraternity or sorority
• Hazing: Mental or physical abuse or harassment of a member. Hazing is prohibited by university policy, State law, and the policies of national fraternities and sororities.
• House Corporation: Alumni organization which owns and/or manages a chapter house.
• Intake: The membership recruitment and induction process for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (historically African-American fraternities and sororities)
• Interfraternity Council (IFC): the representative body governing fraternities
• Initiation: the traditional ritual, which brings the new member into full membership
• 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
• 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 (Some organizations use other terms such as PLEDGE, ASSOCIATE, CANDIDATE, OR LINE BROTHER/SISTER) - One who has been accepted as a probationary member of a sorority or fraternity but has not yet been initiated. Collectively, the New Members who join the same semester are called the NEW MEMBER CLASS OR PLEDGE CLASS.
• New Member Education Process: The time period in which candidates for active membership (or new members) learn about the organization and participate in brotherhood/sisterhood activities.
• Order of Omega: An national honor society recognizing fraternity and sorority members who excel in academic achievement, Greek leadership and campus involvement.
• 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
• Recruitment (sometimes called RUSH): The membership recruitment process. Potential New Members are sometimes referred to as RUSHEES. MU has a deferred recruitment policy. Deferred recruitment means that in order to join a fraternity or sorority a student must have at least 12 MU credits or transfer credits (first year students can join second semester of their first year)
• Recruitment Counselor (Rho Chi): a disaffiliated member of an organization who assists potential members through the recruitment process.
• Ritual: the traditional ceremonies of a chapter, which are usually secret
• Potential: a term for men or women being recruited by a Greek organization
• Sister: a term used when referring to other members of a sorority
• Sorority: a Greek organization for women
• Strict Silence: not discussing recruitment with non-sorority members outside of the recruitment events
• Stroll/Step Show: A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations (usually at a party or step show)

Other Terms:

• Sisterhood/Brotherhood: Intangible, yet the most cherished of assets among all Greek members, sisterhood and brotherhood are the foundations of sorority and fraternity life. Both are difficult to explain, but they can be basically characterized by their most common and identifiable element.
• Scholarship: The Greek community at MU 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Alumni/Alumnae: 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.
• Social: The Greek community at MU 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.
• Greek Week: A special week each year where al the Greeks come together. This week includes such events as Greek games, tug-of-war, and Greek Airband.