Student Activities and Organizations
Greek Definitions and terms
Active:
a college undergraduate who has been initiated into fraternity or
sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level.
Alumni/Alumnae: initiated fraternity or sorority members who have
graduated from college.
Bid (card): a formal invitation to join a particular fraternity
or sorority.
Bid Day: the day immediately following formal recruitment where
chapters extend their invitation for membership to potential new members
Brother: a term used by fraternity members to refer to one
another.
Chapter: a local group of the larger inter/national organization.
Depledge: to terminate one's fraternity or sorority membership
before initiation; those who depledge a fraternity or sorority may not
pledge another fraternity or sorority until the next formal recruitment
period.
Fraternity: the name that applies to all Greek letter
organizations characterized by a ritual, pin, and strong ties to
friendship and moral principles. Informally, women's fraternities are
called sororities.
Greek: any member of a Greek-letter social or community service
organization (sorority or fraternity).
Hazing: any displays of buffoonery by active members of a
fraternity or sorority meant to belittle or harm new members. These acts
are not tolerated at
House: the physical residence where the local chapter of a
fraternity or sorority resides. Not all fraternities and sororities have
houses.
House Corporation Board: A legal entity holding title to, or
leasing, any real property (land and buildings) for a chapter's
living/meeting purposes. This alumni body has basic responsibilities
relative to property ownership and maintenance.
Initiation: the formal ceremony that marks the beginning of
active membership.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): the governing body of fraternities
at ISU.
Intramural: athletic activities in which members from different
chapters compete and participate in sporting events.
Legacy: The brother or sister, son or daughter, or grandson or
granddaughter of a fraternity or sorority member. While being a legacy
does not mean automatic membership into that chapter, it is looked upon
favorably.
Rush: (also known as recruitment) the process fraternities use to
recruit new members.
NPHC (National PanHellenic Council): A national organization
comprised of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is
historically African-American, and locally the governing council for
eight of these groups.
New Member: A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been
initiated.
New Member Program: A period of learning about fraternity and
sorority life prior to initiation. This period varies for all groups.
Philanthropy: A charitable fundraiser or service project
sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.
Pledge: see "New Member."
Pledgeship: see "New Member Program."
Potential New Member: A college man/woman who is participating in
Membership Recruitment/Rush.
Preferencing (“preffing”): During the last part of Recruitment, a
Potential New Member determines which particular sorority she is willing
to join. For sorority membership recruitment, the Potential New Member
lists three sororities in her order of preference.
Quota: The specified number of Potential New Members to which
each sorority may extend a bid.
Recruitment Counselor: A sorority member who has disaffiliated
herself from her chapter during Formal Membership Recruitment. She is
specially trained to help Potential New Members and answer any questions
they may have about sorority membership.
Ritual: The traditional beliefs and oaths of a sorority or
fraternity usually used in reference to the Ceremonies of Initiation as
well as weekly chapter meetings. These traditions do not include any
forms of hazing, because hazing weakens the bonds of brotherhood /
sisterhood, and undermines the common experience of the fraternity or
sorority.
Rush: (Also known as recruitment) The process fraternities and
sororities use to recruit new members.
Rush Chair: The person from each fraternity who is in charge of
each chapter's rush functions.
Sister: A term used by sorority members to refer to one another.
Social: A get-together with another group for a party, dinner, or
another fun occasion