{"id":219,"date":"2011-07-12T21:34:37","date_gmt":"2011-07-12T21:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/student-life\/?page_id=219"},"modified":"2025-12-22T11:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T19:11:22","slug":"terminology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/student-life\/fraternity-sorority-life\/terminology\/","title":{"rendered":"FSL Terminology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greek organizations use phrases and words to describe various aspects of Fraternity & Sorority Life. Below is a sample of the terminology with definitions, used by members of Greek Organizations<\/p>\n

Membership Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Active Member<\/strong><\/td>\nA fully initiated member of a fraternity\/sorority with full chapter privileges and responsibilities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alumni Member<\/strong><\/td>\nA graduated Greek member from the University of La Verne, or other campus.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Member\u00a0(informal: pledge)<\/strong><\/td>\nA student who has accepted a bid from a fraternity\/sorority. After a period of education, new members may be initiated. This period is referred to as pledging, associate or new membership education depending on the fraternity\/sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Potential New Member (PNM)<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nA person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity\/sorority.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Recruitment\/Intake Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bid<\/strong><\/td>\nOfficial invitation to join a fraternity\/sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Initiation<\/strong><\/td>\nThe tradition ritual that brings a new member into active membership of a fraternity or sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Intake<\/strong><\/td>\nhow historically Black fraternities and sororities select and educate new members.<\/mark>\u00a0It’s a structured, confidential path to learn the organization’s history, values, and community service, requiring strong academic standing (GPA), community involvement, and commitment<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Legacy<\/strong><\/td>\nA potential new member whose family member is already a member of that fraternity\/sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New Member Class\/Line\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A group of individuals who are selected to <\/span>become inducted\/initiated into a particular sorority\/fraternity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Recruitment\/Rush<\/strong><\/td>\nThe period at the beginning of the semester during which fraternity and sorority members meet potential new members and acquire new members through the Bid process.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ritual<\/strong><\/td>\nThe traditional beliefs of a fraternity or sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sigma Rho Chi<\/strong><\/td>\nCPH Sorority Recruitment Counselors\u00a0who are available to answer questions a potential member may have about recruitment. These women have temporarily disaffiliated from her chapter to provide objective advice and support to potential new members.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silence Period<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span>The period of time between the end of Recruitment and Bid Day where there is no communication between Potential New Members and CPH\/IFC Members.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Organization Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Big Brother\/Sister<\/strong><\/td>\nAn active member chosen to assist and advise a new member.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Black Greek Letter Organizations<\/strong><\/td>\nThe representative body encompassing<\/a> the historically Black fraternities and sororities.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brother<\/strong><\/td>\nA term used by initiated members of a fraternity when referring to one another.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Campus Advisor<\/strong><\/td>\nA full-time University faculty or staff member that assists the organization with issues related to the university.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chapter<\/strong><\/td>\nLocal group which represents a segment of a local or national organization.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
City-Wide Chapter<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		A unified collegiate chapter of a fraternity or sorority that has members from\u00a0<\/span>two or more different colleges or universities within the same area<\/strong>, operating under one charter, constitution, and set of officers instead of separate campus chapters.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
College Panhellenic Association
\n(CPH)<\/strong><\/td>\n		The representative body governing sororities<\/a> at the University of La Verne.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fraternity<\/strong><\/td>\nA Greek organization for men. A full-time University of La Verne staff member who oversees all the programs included within Greek life.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FSL Week<\/strong><\/td>\nA week-long friendly competition between recognized Greek organization at ULV during the spring semester.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Greek Advisor<\/strong><\/td>\nA full-time University of La Verne staff member who oversees all the programs included within Fraternity & Sorority Life.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Interfraternity Council
\n(IFC)<\/strong><\/td>\n		The representative body governing fraternities<\/a> at the University of La Verne.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Organizations<\/strong><\/td>\nFraternity\/Sorority with chapters located at various Colleges\/Universities across the nation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Order of Omega<\/strong><\/td>\nThe national Greek leadership honor organization.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pin<\/strong><\/td>\nThe active pin or badge, worn on the chest designating an active member of a fraternity\/sorority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Philanthropy<\/strong><\/td>\nPrograms or events sponsored by Greek organizations as a way to give back to the community, programs or events sponsored by Greek organizations. Usually, these are funraisers and donation collections.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sister<\/strong><\/td>\nA term used by initiated members of a sorority when referring to one another.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sorority<\/strong><\/td>\nA Greek organization for women.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greek organizations use phrases and words to describe various aspects of Fraternity & Sorority Life. Below is a sample of the terminology with definitions, used by members of Greek Organizations Membership Terms Active Member A fully initiated member of a fraternity\/sorority with full chapter privileges and responsibilities. Alumni Member A graduated Greek member from the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":9,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-219","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFSL Terminology | University of La Verne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/student-life\/fraternity-sorority-life\/terminology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FSL Terminology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Greek organizations use phrases and words to describe various aspects of Fraternity & Sorority Life. 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