Greek Lingo

  
 
Here's some of the most commonly heard terms related to Greek Life to help you through this process
 
Alumna: a fully initiated member of a sorority who is no longer in college.
Bid Day: the Saturday after preference when potential new members are matched to a sorority and the sororities learn which potential new members have decided to join their house.
Bid: an invitation to join a sorority.
Big Sister: each new member is matched to a big sister during the new member education process. A big sister is there to be a guide and mentor to her little sister throughout the new member process and continuing through college and life.
Chapter Room: the room where house events and meetings occur. In our house, it is apartment 104 which has been fully renovated for our purposes.
Chapter Total: The total number of members allowed in each house. At RPI, each sorority is allowed 60 sisters and new members unless quota allows them to go higher.
Chapter: the local group of a fraternal organization.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB): The process of extending a bid to a PNM outside of formal recruitment. This can happen at any time during the year, provided the house has not filled quota or chapter total.
Formal Recruitment (Rush): the period of time set aside for intensive new member recruitment. This occurs during the two weeks in the beginning of September.
Greek: a member of a fraternity or sorority.
House: A term used to describe the physical house occupied by the fraternity or sorority, as well as the organization itself. For example, one may be asked, “Which house did you decide to join?”
IFC: The Inter-Fraternal Council, the governing body of the fraternity system, led by student officers and representatives.
Independent: a person who did not affiliate with a Greek organization
Informal Recruitment: this type of recruitment occurs in the spring and is very similar to fall recruitment, except bids are offered at any time, rather than at a final bid day like formal recruitment.
Initiation: the traditional ritual which brings the new member into full membership of a sorority or fraternity.
Lavalier: a necklace with a Greek letter charm, usually given to a new sister after initiation. Fraternity lavaliers are also given to long term girlfriends of some houses.
Legacy: a rushee of a sorority who is the daughter or sister of a member of the same sorority, although not necessarily of the same chapter.
New Member (NM): a trial member of a sorority or a fraternity, taking the steps to become a fully initiated member. (formerly called a "pledge", this term is no longer used due to an implication of hazing)
New Sister: a member of the last new member class to be initiated.
Order of Omega: a national Greek honor society for juniors and seniors.
Panhel: the Panhellenic Council, the governing body of the sorority system, led by student officers and representatives.
Philanthropy: a charitable project sponsored by a Greek organization.
Pin: initiated members of a sorority or fraternity wear a pin to show their affiliation (usually only on special occasions). New members wear a different pin throughout the new member education period.
Potential New Member (PNM): a person interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, also known as a “rushee”.
Preference Card: after preference, potential new members fill out a preference card on which they are asked to rank the one or two houses they visited during preference. This is then used to match potential new members to the houses.
Preference Party: the final recruitment party during formal recruitment is called a preference party and it given by invitation only. It is often ceremonial and is the last chance for potential new members to interact with a sorority before signing a preference card. At RPI, this occurs the Friday night before bid day, and potential new members are allowed to attend up to two preference parties.
Quota: the number of new members a sorority may extend bids to during formal rush, found by dividing the number of girls eligible by the number of houses.
Recruitment Counselor (Rho Chi): a sister who voluntarily disaffiliates from her house to provide guidance to potential new members during the somewhat confusing, but rewarding process of recruitment.
Silence: between the setting of quota and bid signing, a period of strict silence is held. During this time, sisters are not to initiate conversation with potential new members to allow them time to think through the decision of joining a sorority and which one they would prefer. A simple hello in passing is allowed, but do not be offended when a sister cannot engage in conversation.
Sister: a fully initiated member of a sorority.