Glossary of Greek terms
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Alumna/Alumnus: an initiated sorority or fraternity member who has graduated from college
Alumnae/Alumni: two or more sorority or fraternity members who have graduated from college
Bid: a formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority
Bid Day: last day of membership recruitment, which includes acceptance parties
Brother/Sister: term used by active members when referring to each other
Call/Chant: Audible sounds used by members to acknowledge or gain the attention of other members.
Chapter: the collegiate group of a national fraternity/sorority, designated by a special Greek name
Formal Recruitment: period of structured membership selection
Greek: a student who is a member of a social fraternity or sorority
Interfraternity Council (IFC): governing body for national fraternities
Initiation: the formal ceremony that marks the transition from new member status to full membership
Intake: The process NPHC and MGC chapters perform to recruit, interview, and select new members
Legacy: a Son/Daughter, brother/sister of a Fraternity/sorority member
Line: the new members of an organization who are presented at the same time
Multicultural Greek Council (MGC): the governing body for the culturally diverse fraternities and sororities at Baylor
National Panhellenic ConferenceNPC: the National Panhellenic Conference in which all eight Baylor sororities are members. NPC is the coordinating body of all college Panhellenic Associations in the United States and Canada (NPC History)
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): the governing council for the nine historically Black Greek-lettered sororities and fraternities
Orientation/New Member Education: a time in which the new members learn about the sorority or fraternity, its members, and chapter activities at the local and inter/national levels
Panhellenic Council: central governing body of NPC sororities
Philanthropy: a community service and/or fundraising project sponsored by a chapter
New Member (formerly known as Pledge): a member of a fraternity or sorority not yet initiated
Probate/Presentation: The introduction of New Members of an NPHC or MGC chapter to the Greek Campus communities
Prospective/Potential Member: a non-sorority or non-fraternity undergraduate who attends recruitment activities
Quota: the number of new members a Panhellenic sorority may take in one new member class
Recommendation: a written statement in support of a woman for a sorority written by an alumna member of that organization
Recruitment Counselor (Gamma Chi): Panhellenic Greek woman who guides prospective members through the membership recruitment process. This woman has completely disaffiliated herself from her sorority in order to provide objective advice and support.
Silence: period of time with no contact between sororities and potential members
Strutting/Strolling: Coordinated movements done in a line by NPHC and MGC organizations to show unity. Often demonstrated at social gatherings or during step shows.
