Terminology and Etiquette

Active: A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level
Alumni/Alumnae: Initiated fraternity or sorority members who have graduated from college

Bid: An invitation to join a fraternity or sorority
Bid Day: The last day of recruitment when new members celebrate getting their bids and when disaffiliated recruitment counselors rejoin their organization through "running home"
Big Brother or Sister: An active member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a sponsor, mentor, and special friend to a New Member, guiding them through their New Member program

Calls: Vocal expressions unique to a Greek organization. While you can enjoy listening to organizations' calls, it is disrespectful to imitate the calls if you are not a part of the organization.
Chapter: A local group of the larger national organization; an individual fraternity or sorority
Charter: Permission from the national or international fraternity or sorority headquarters for the local chapter to operate
College Panhellenic Council (CPH): The governing body of sororities at the Columbus State University Panhellenic operated under the direction of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
Colony: A group of students seeking a charter from a headquarters to a chapter
Crest: Insignia used by sorority and fraternity members, usually with hidden, secret meanings within its design
Crossing: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate that a new member has been fully initiated into a group

Disaffiliate: To remove yourself from the Greek organization in which you have been initiated. This is done temporarily by recruitment counselors until bid day, when they "run home" to rejoin their organization.
Divine 9: Refers to the nine organizations represented in the National Pan-Hellenic Council
Dry Recruitment: The prohibition of alcohol at any chapter event where potential new members are or may potentially be present

Formal Recruitment: The major period of time set aside by the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils for meeting potential new members
Fraternity: The general term for all Greek-letter organizations, generally applied to men's groups
Function: A social gathering for two or more fraternities or sororities

Greek: Any member of a Greek-letter social organization (sorority or fraternity)

Informal Recruitment: A time period outside of formal recruitment in which Greek organizations individually decide when they will extend bids to potential members
Initiation: The formal ceremony or traditional ritual that brings a new member into full membership
Intake or Membership Intake: The term typically used by NPHC organizations for bringing new members into their organization
Interfraternity Council (IFC): One of the governing bodies of fraternities at Columbus State University. IFC operates under the affiliation requirements of the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

Legacy: The brother or sister, son or daughter, or grandson or granddaughter of a fraternity or sorority member. Each chapter has its own policy regarding legacies.
Line: A term typically used by NPHC organizations for individuals going through the membership intake process together

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): A national organization composed of 26 member sororities/women's fraternities
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): A national organization composed of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is historically African American; locally the governing council for six organizations
Nationals: A term referring to the central organization of a fraternity or sorority
Neophyte (Neo): A term typically used by NPHC members for the newest members of a fraternity or sorority
New Member Program: An educational journey in which New Members learn the history, ideals and values of the organization. The time frame of the New Member Program varies for each chapter.
New/Associate Member: A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated
North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): A national organization composed of 66 national member men's fraternities and alumni associations.

Order of Omega: An honors organization that extends invitations to juniors and seniors who are initiated members of a fraternity or sorority and have attained a high standard of leadership and scholarship within the fraternity and sorority community

Philanthropy: A service project, fundraiser, or initiative taken on by a Greek organization at the campus, community, or national level
Pin: (Two types) The active pin is worn on the chest designating an initiated member of a certain Greek organization. A new member pin is simpler and is used to designate a new member.
Potential New Member (PNM)A person who has shown interest but not yet been offered or accepted a bid into a fraternity/sorority
Prophyte: A term typically used by NPHC members for an older brother or sister in a fraternity or sorority who generally took part in the initiation of the organization's new members

Quota: The specified number of Potential New Members to which each Panhellenic sorority may extend a bid

Recommendation (Rec): A written recommendation for a Potential New Member from an alumni member of an organization. Letters of recommendation do NOT guarantee a bid from any sorority.
Recruitment Counselor: An active member of a fraternity or sorority, chosen and trained to assist Potential New Members with formal recruitment
Recruitment/Rush/Intake: The activity by which chapters seek new members
Ritual: The traditional ceremonies of a chapter, which are usually secret
Running home: When disaffiliated recruitment counselors rejoin their Greek organization on Bid Day

Stepping: A creative form of artistic dance and musical entertainment unique to some culturally-based fraternities and sororities, especially those of historically African American heritage
Signs: A unique hand symbol or movement related to a Greek organization. It can be considered disrespectful to imitate the signs if you are not a part of the organization.
Sorority: The term generally applied to Greek organizations of women
Strolling: When a fraternity or sorority, typically an NPHC organization, forms a line and performs choreographed moves. While you can enjoy watching the organizations stroll, it is disrespectful to imitate their choreography if you are not a part of the organization. It is also considered disrespectful to walk between people in the line while they are strolling.

Total: The maximum number of members and new members a Panhellenic sorority can have at the end of recruitment. If a Panhellenic sorority has obtained quota during recruitment and is still below total, that sorority may continue to extend bids to new members.

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