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Dictionary of Fraternity and Sorority Terms |
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Written by the CollegeCodex.com Staff
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The Greek system in college has it's own culture. They follow their own set of terms, standards, and policies.
Fraternity
A group of all-male or mixed-sex students formed to follow an order of
ideals to improve both themselves and the community. Usually, a
fraternity is a national organization with chapters at individual
colleges.
Sorority
A group of all-female students formed to follow an order of ideals to
improve both themselves and the community. Usually, a sorority is
a national organization with chapters at individual colleges.
Social Fraternity
Sometimes referred to as a “normal” fraternity, these organizations
participate in community service, leadership development,
brotherhood/sisterhood ideals, and personal character development.
- Example Fraternities: Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Kappa Theta
- Example Sororities: Delta Zeta, Sigma Sigma Sigma.
Service Fraternity
Participate in projects to improve the community on both a local and national level.
- Examples: Alpha Sigma Epsilon, Alpha Phi Omega.
Professional Fraternity
Share similar ideals and foster plans to become respectable individuals in a particular field of work.
- Examples: Delta Sigma Pi, Psi Chi.
Honorary Fraternity
Share similar ideals to strive for high academic accomplishment.
- Examples: Rho Phi Lambda, Phi Sigma Pi.
Chapter/House
A local division of a national fraternity or sorority.
Rush
The process of attending recruitment events held by houses with the
intent of meeting people and participating in a particular fraternity
or sorority.
Bid
An invitation from a fraternity or sorority to a student to join their organization.
Pledge
A student, who has accepted and filed their bid, intending to become a member of a particular house.
Initiation Week
The week preceding initiation when men and women accomplish tasks and
attend events that follow the ideals of the fraternity or sorority.
Ritual
A ceremony, usually a closely-guarded secret, which has been unchanged
for centuries to inform pledges about all ideals of the organization,
as well as teach secret handshakes, passwords, symbols, and meanings.
Initiation
The process of becoming a fraternity or sorority member. Usually, this process is part of the ritual.
Hazing
Any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full
status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or
physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to
participate. Most Greek organizations have completely eliminated
hazing. All organizations have an anti-hazing policy.
GDI
God Damn Independent. A person who opposes participation in the
Greek system. Ironically, many GDIs eventually become members of
a fraternity or sorority.
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