Greek Life: Glossary of Terms

Active - a chapter member who has already been initiated. May also be referred to as an Initiate.

Alumna (feminine) - a sorority member who is no longer a member of a collegiate chapter; plural is alumnae.

Alumnus (masculine) – a fraternity member who is no longer a member of a collegiate chapter.

Bid – a formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.

Chapel Run – the Muhlenberg tradition of men’s fraternities offering bids in the Egner Chapel. New members then follow initiates out of the chapel behind the chapters flag.

Chapter - a membership unit of a national or international fraternity or sorority.

Dirty Rushing - recruitment practices conducted during Recruitment Week inconsistent with the Inter-Fraternity Council or Panhellenic Council rules.

Recruitment Week - a designated membership recruitment period during which a series of organized events is held by each chapter; membership recruitment is organized by the Inter-Fraternity Council or Panhellenic Council. Historically referred to as “Rush”

New Member Education – All chapters have an education period for new members varying between four and ten weeks in length depending on the organization. This is a time to learn more about the chapter, its national origins, and the work and contributions you will be expected to do as a member. As a new member, you hold many of the same rights as "active" members from the day that you accept your bid. You also have the right to request a complete schedule of the new member education program, in advance, so that you can better plan your academic work and personal time.

Fraternity - a Greek letter sisterhood or brotherhood.

Initiate – a fully initiated member of the chapter.

Initiation - ritualistic ceremony during which new members receive life long membership privileges.

New Member - a student who has accepted a chapter bid but is not yet an initiated member.

Pledge - promise made by a new member

Potential New Member (PNM) - any student interested in becoming a chapter member who is matriculated and eligible according to published requirements

Preferential Bidding - a system used at the conclusion of formal membership recruitment to match sorority and potential member preferences

Preference Night or Pref Night - the final night of the formal membership recruitment period during which a prospective member signs Membership Recruitment Acceptance Card and chapters participate in Preferential Bidding.