| TERM |
DEFINITION |
| Active |
A person who has been initiated into a
lifelong membership of a fraternity or sorority and is in good
standing with this organization. |
| Alumni |
A graduate member of a fraternity or
sorority. |
| Associate Member |
An individual who has accepted the bid of a
fraternity/sorority, and has taken the first step towards full
membership. |
| Bid |
An invitation to membership. |
| Big Brother |
An active member of a fraternity who serves
as a guide, advisor and special friend to a new member. |
| Brother |
A term used within a fraternity when
referring to other members or new members. |
| Chapter |
A chartered undergraduate or alumni group
recognized by a fraternity or sorority. |
| Chapter Advisor |
An alumni who establishes and maintains a
close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a
teacher, counselor, and friend. |
| Colony |
A student organization in the final stage
before being installed as a chartered chapter of a Greek-letter
organization. |
| Dry |
A term used to describe events where alcohol
is forbidden. All recruitment events are dry. |
| Founder's Day |
A date celebrating the original founding of
a Greek-letter organization. |
| Fraternity |
A group of individuals bound together by
common goals and rituals. |
| Greek |
A general term applied to members affiliated
with Greek-letter organizations. |
| Initiation |
A ceremony in which an associate member
receives full membership privledges. |
| Interfraternal Counsil |
The governing body for fraternities
affiliated with the National Interfraternal Counsil. |
| Lavaliere |
A piece of jewelry with the letters of one's
chapter. |
| Lavaliering |
The practice of a fraternity member giving
his lavaliere to a woman, signifying their committed
relationship. |
| Legacy |
A rushee of a fraternity who is a son,
brother, or other relative of a member of the fraternity. |
| Order of Omega |
An honorary organization of Greeks dedicated
to the principles of leadership, academic excellence and
community service. |
| Philanthropy |
An activity to raise money for a community
or national organization/foundation. |
| Recruitment |
The period of formal recruitment to meet
chapter members. |
| Ritual |
The secret ceremonies and symbols of a
fraternity or sorority. These generally reveal the core beliefs
of the organization. |
| Rushee |
A person interested in becoming a member of
a fraternity. |
