Active: a college undergraduate who has been initiated into fraternity or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level.
Alumni/Alumnae: initiated fraternity or sorority members who have graduated from college.
Bid (card): a formal invitation to join a particular fraternity or sorority. Fraternity bid cards are given out to potential members during the summer while sororities give them during recruitment.
Bid Day: the day immediately following sorority formal recruitment where chapters extend their invitation for membership to potential new members.
Chapter: a local group of the larger inter/national organization.
Fraternity: the name that applies to all Greek letter organizations characterized by a ritual, pin, and strong ties to friendship and moral principles. Informally, women's fraternities are called sororities.
Greek: any member of a Greek-letter social or community service organization (sorority or fraternity).
Hazing: any displays of buffoonery by active members of a fraternity or sorority meant to belittle or harm new members. These acts are not tolerated on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and are in direct violation of our hazing policy.
House: the physical residence where the local chapter of a fraternity or sorority resides. Not all fraternities and sororities have houses.
House Corporation Board: A legal entity holding title to, or leasing, any real property (land and buildings) for a chapter's living/meeting purposes. This alumni body has basic responsibilities relative to property ownership and maintenance.
Initiation: the formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): the governing body of fraternities at UNL.
Intramural: athletic activities in which members from different chapters compete and participate in sporting events.
Lavaliere: A pendant with a sorority's Greek letters on it. Sorority members usually receive their chapter's lavaliere at the time of initiation.
Legacy: The brother or sister, son or daughter, or grandson or granddaughter of a fraternity or sorority member. While being a legacy does not mean automatic membership into that chapter, it is looked upon favorably.
NPHC (National PanHellenic Council): A national organization comprised of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is historically African-American, and locally the governing council for seven of these groups.
New Member: A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated.
New Member Program: A period of learning about fraternity and sorority life prior to initiation. This period varies for all groups.
Philanthropy: A charitable fundraiser or service project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.
Pledge: see "New Member."
Pledgeship: see "New Member Program."
Potential New Member: A college woman who is participating in Formal Membership Recruitment.
Preferencing "preffing": During the last day of recruitment, a Potential New Member determines which particular sorority she wants to join. For sorority membership recruitment, the Potential New Member lists three sororities in her order of preference.
Quota: The specified number of Potential New Members to which each sorority may extend a bid.
Recruitment: (also known as rush) The process sororities use to recruit new members.
Recruitment Guide: A sorority member who has disaffiliated herself from her chapter during Formal
Membership Recruitment. She is specially trained to help Potential New Members and answer any questions they may have about sorority membership. Also referred to as a Rho Gamma.
Ritual: The traditional beliefs and oaths of a sorority or fraternity usually used in reference to the Ceremonies of Initiation as well as weekly chapter meetings. These traditions do not include any forms of hazing, because hazing weakens the bonds of brotherhood / sisterhood, and undermines the common experience of the fraternity or sorority.
Rush: (also known as recruitment) The process fraternities use to recruit new members. The UNL campus participates in an informal summer rush.
Rush Chair: The person from each fraternity who is in charge of each chapter's rush functions.
Sister: A term used by sorority members to refer to one another.
Social: A get-together with another group for a party, dinner, or another fun occasion.
Greek & Recruitment Vocabulary
Greek Life Vocabulary
Alpha Delta Pi Terms
Alpha Member: We use the term "Alpha" to describe members who have not yet been initiated. In Greek, "Alpha" means "beginning" and we use the term for our women who are beginning their membership.
Alpha Education (Alpha Ed.): Alpha Delta Pi's New Membership Program. One day a week for six weeks, our Alphas learn about our chapter, Alpha Delta Pi as a national organization, and everything inbetween.
Delta Member: In ADPi, "Delta" is used to describe our members who have been initiated and are active members who have not yet graduated. In Greek, "Delta" means "change". Throughout your college years, you will ultimately change into the woman you're meant to be.
Diamond Sister: Alpha Delta Pi's version of bigs and littles. You will have a "big" Diamond Sister, and eventually your own "little" Diamond Sister! Together your lineage will make your Diamond Family.
District Leadership Conference (DLC): Every year, each new executive officer and a few other specific officers are able to attend a leadership conference with other Alpha Delta Pi chapters and sisters from their district. We are District Four and our conference is usually held in Chicago. At DLC, officers get time to break off into groups with officers of the same position from different chapters. You get to share ideas, experiences, and learn more about your position and Alpha Delta Pi. There are also awards that are given out for things such as GPA, Recruitment, and even ADPi Spirit.
Pi Member: "Pi" representing infinity, is the name we give our Alumnae sisters. Just as pi goes on forever, so does your sisterhood in Alpha Delta Pi.
Prides: Inspired by our mascot the lion, prides are essentially what we call a group of sisters who are participating in the same activity. For example, Study Prides are simply what we call our study hours.