Fraternity/Sorority Overview
Greek Terms
Active: A formal initiated member of a fraternity or sorority
Alumnae: A sorority member who has graduated from college
Alumnus: A fraternity member who has graduated from college
Bid: A formal invitation to join a Greek organization
Bid Day: The last day of recruitment which includes activities done to celebrate the new members
Brother or Bruh: 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
College Panhellenic Council: The representative body governing sororities
Chapter: Name for the local organization of a national fraternity or sorority
Continuous Open Bidding: Some Panhellenic affiliated chapter continue to recruit and pledge women throughout the school year
Fraternity: A Greek organization for men
Greek: A member of a fraternity or sorority
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 who has a family member in the same fraternity or sorority
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): Founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 (inter)national women's sororities, each of which is autonomous as a social Greek - letter society of college women and alumnae.
Membership Intake: A term given to the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) fraternities' and sororities' membership process
National Pan-hellenic Council (NHPC): The representative body governing national historically Black Greek organizations
Neophyte or Neo: A new member of an NPHC organization
New Member/ Associate: A member who has not been initiated
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
North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): The representative body of national fraternities
Philanthropy: The chapter's specific charitable organization(s) to which they donate money and volunteer hours
Potential New Member (PNM): A term for men or women being recruited by a Greek organization
Recruitment Counselor: 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
Step Show: A style of dance that uses rhythmic stomping to demonstrate unity, talent, and organizational pride. Step shows are a lively and popular part of the African American fraternity and sorority tradition
Sister or Soror: 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: A line dance by members of cultural Greek organization (usually at a party or step show)
Famous Greeks
| Coretta Scott King | Alpha Kappa Alpha |
| Jada Pinkett Smith | Alpha Kappa Alpha |
| Pamela Anderson | Alpha Sigma Alpha |
| Freida Riley | Alpha Sigma Alpha |
| Daisy Bates | Delta Sigma Theta |
| Camille Cosby | Delta Sigma Theta |
| George W. Carver | Phi Beta Sigma |
| Huey P. Newton | Phi Beta Sigma |
| Dean Rockwell | Phi Sigma Phi |
| Shannon Ford | Phi Sigma Sigma |
| Marian Rosen | Phi Sigma Sigma |
| Tracey Lawrence | Sigma Pi |
| Barry Weiss | Sigma Pi |
| Terry Bradshaw | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
| Ronald Reagan | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
| Zora Neale Hurston | Zeta Phi Beta |
| Sheryl Underwood | Zeta Phi Beta |
Greek Alphabet
