Speak Greek!
Explanation of Terms
Active
A man/woman who has been initiated into livelong membership of a fraternity/sorority and is currently in college.
Alumnus
An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who is no longer in college.
Badge
Pin of an initiated member.
Bid
A formal invitation to join a fraternity/sorority, issued in writing directly from the fraternity/sorority to a potential new member and confirmed by the appropriate governing council.
Chapter
The local chartered unit of a national fraternity or sorority.
Continuous Opening Bidding (C.O.B.)
Year-round period where fraternities/sororities invite men/women into their house for social, intramural and other activities.
Membership Recruitment
The period set aside for events, informational and membership selection during the first few weeks of Fall semester.
Fraternity
The name applied to Greek organizations, including most sororities; informally it is applied to men's groups.
Greek
A member of a fraternity or sorority. These organization and members are named such because they were founded at a time when Greek Society was the epitome of civilized life.
Initiation
A ceremony by which new members become active members of their fraternity/sorority.
Interfraternity Council (IFC)
The local central governing body of NIC affiliated or eligible fraternities.
Legacy
A direct relative (sister, daughter, etc) of an active/alumni sorority member.
National
The governing body and staff of each National Fraternity/Sorority who oversees the local chapter.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
The national organization composed of 26 women's fraternities/sororities, each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter-society of college women, undergraduate and alumnae.
New Member/Pledge
A man or woman who has gone through formal pin in ceremonies and is learning the history and purposes of his/her fraternity/sorority but has not yet been initiated into life-long membership.
North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
The national organization comprised of men's national and international fraternal organizations.
Panhellenic (NPC)
The local coordinating and governing organization for NPC member sororities.
Philanthropy
An event or events, such as a sports tournament, that a chapter sponsors with the goal of raising money to donate to a chapter’s charity.
Potential New Member
Any man or woman who is not and has never been a member of a recognized social, Greek-letter-society/fraternity or sorority.
Ritual
The traditional initiation ceremony of a chapter. This is usually the only secret part of a fraternity/sorority.
Sorority
The name informally applied to women's fraternities.