Terminology

Active Member: An undergraduate member who has been initiated by their chapter, paid local and national dues, maintains the g.pa requirements, and serves on the chapters active roster.

Alumna/Alumnus: A sorority/fraternity member who is no longer a member of a collegiate chapter (plurals are alumnae and alumni).

BGLO:  Black Greek Letter Organization.

Calls – a unique vocal expression attributed to an organization. Please Do: Enjoy listening to the unique calls of the groups. Please Don’t: Repeat an organization’s particular call or response.  It is considered a sign of disrespect.

Chapter: A local membership unit of a national or international sorority or fraternity.

Club: A term used to denote someone who has the same line number as you.

Crossing:  A term used by NPHC groups to indicate that a new member has been fully initiated into a group.  You may also use the term “crossing the burning sands.” Also see Initiation.

Divine 9- Refers to the nine organizations represented in the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Frat: The term used by one brother in a fraternity to refer to another brother in that same fraternity.

Fraternity: Greek-letter organizations that are characterized by a ritual, badge, and a strong tie of friendship. Informally, women’s fraternities are called sororities.

Informational: A forum for individuals interested in seeking more information about a particular NPHC fraternity or sorority.

Intake or Membership Intake: The term groups use to bring new members into an organization. Each NPHC group determines when they will conduct intake.

Initiation: The formal ceremony that brings a new member into full membership.

Legacy: A man or woman whose mother/father, sister/brother, or in some cases grandmother/grandfather, is an alumna/alumnus or active member of a sorority or fraternity (Does not guarantee membership in all organizations)

Line: Individuals going through the membership intake process together.

National Pan: Hellenic Council (NPHC): NPHC is the governing body comprised of the 9 national historically African: American fraternities and sororities.

Neophyte: A new member of an NPHC fraternity or sorority.

Philanthropy: A service project undertaken by Greek organizations at the campus, community, or national level. Each fraternity and sorority has a designated cause to which they serve.

Prophyte: Someone who has been a member of an NPHC group for a year or more, or someone who has initiated new members.

Sands: The term used to refer to men and women who were initiated in the same term and year (ex. Spring 2012). Note: they do not have to belong to the same group.

Signs – a unique display expressed by hand symbols. Please Do: Enjoy the viewing of the various signs. Please Don’t: imitate an organization’s sign.  It is a sign of disrespect.

Soror: The term used to refer to a sister of the sorority.

Sorority: A Greek-letter sisterhood.

Strolling – Organizational members move together in a line expressing pride for their organization.  In this line, members may express their pride through use of their organization’s call, sign or historical information, ritual/custom dances, etc.  All of this is done through movements that are unique to a particular organization. Please Do: Enjoy watching, as each organization has a unique way and style of strolling. Please Don’t: imitate the stroll or cut in between members of the line.  That is considered a sign of disrespect.

Yard: A term used by NPHC groups to indicate the campus. Used in phrases such as “which groups are on the yard,” meaning which groups are presently active on campus.