It's all Greek to Me!

Greek Alphabet

Academic
Athletic
Campus Committees
Greek
Honors
Multicultural
Professional
Service
Special Interest
University Sponsored

A	B	G
Alpha	Beta	Gamma
D	E	Z
Delta	Epsilon	Zeta
H	Q	I
Eta	Theta	Iota
K	L	M
Kappa	Lambda	Mu
N	X	O
Nu	Xi	Omicron
P	R	S
Pi	Rho	Sigma
T	U	F
Tau	Upsilon	Phi
X	Y	W
Chi	Psi	Omega

Greek Terminology

Active Member:  A fully initiated member of a sorority or fraternity.

Alumnus:  An initiated individual who has graduated from college.

Bid:  A formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.

Bid Day:  The day when potential members receive a bid from a Greek organization. 

Big Brother/Big Sister:  An initiated member who is chosen to serve as a special guide and mentor to a new member.

Candlelight:  Formal announcement of a sister being lavaliered, pinned or engaged, kept secret until that sister blows out a candle passed around a circle of sisters.

Chapter:  The local membership of a larger national or international organization.

Chapter Advisor:  An alumnus serving as the link between the chapter, university and the inter/national organization. He or she works with the undergraduate members to ensure the efficient operation of the chapter.

Depledging:  Termination of membership before initiation.  Those who de-pledge may not pledge another organization until the next formal rush period.

Fraternity:  An organization of college men and alumni with lifelong membership which uses Greek letters for a name; from the Latin word “fraternitas,” meaning “brotherhood.”

Headquarters/Nationals:  Refers to the central organization of a fraternity or sorority.

Initiation:  The traditional, formal ceremony bringing full membership into a fraternity or sorority.

Interfraternity Council (IFC):  The representative governing body presiding over all fraternities which maintain relationships among all fraternities. 

Legacy:  A prospective member of a fraternity or sorority who has a blood relative in that organization.

New Member:  A member who has not been initiated.

Panhellenic Council (PHC):  The representative governing body presiding over all sororities which maintain relationships among all sororities.

Pin/Badge:  The active pin is worn on the chest to designate an active member of a particular sorority/fraternity.  The pledge pin is used to designate a new member of an organizations

Potential Member:  Any enrolled UIW student who has expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Greek community. 

Quota:  The maximum number of new members a sorority/fraternity can take during formal rush, set by the respective council.

Recruitment/Rush:  Recruitment period for a Greek community.

Recruitment Guide:  A UIW student who attends rush events as an impartial representative of the campus’ Greek community to potential members. 

Ritual:  A secret ceremony that is traditionally symbolic of the ideas of an organization.

Sorority:  An organization of college women and alumni which uses Greek letters for a name; from the Latin word “soro,” meaning “sister.”