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Active:
A fully initiated member of a fraternity or sorority.
Alumna:
A member of a women’s fraternal organization who is
no longer an undergraduate or active in her collegiate chapter.
Plural: Alumnae.
Alumnus:
A member of a men’s fraternal organization who is
no longer an undergraduate. Plural: Alumni.
Associate Chapter:
Known as a “trial period” for a new
organization that is awaiting official Chapter Status
recognition from their national to establish a letter chapter
on their campus.
Associate Member:
A person who has accepted a bid but is
not yet initiated into a sorority or fraternity. See also “New
Member.”
Badge:
A “pin” worn by fully initiated members of each
fraternity or sorority that carries its official insignia.
Bid:
An invitation to join a sorority or fraternity. It is also a
formal invitation to be a potential/prospective new member
for some culturally based organizations.
Bid Day:
The last day of CPA and IFC Recruitment when
PNMs receive bids to join chapters and become new
members.
Big:
Nickname for big sister or brother, a mentor assigned to
a new member. Many organizations have special names for
these pairings.
Brother:
An active or alumni member of a fraternity.
Brotherhood:
The common term for the bond between
members of the same fraternity.
Call:
A sound used by members of culturally based
organizations or NPHC used to acknowledge or gain the
attention of others.
Chapter:
A local member group of a national organization.
Charter:
The official document drafted by an Inter/National
fraternity or sorority that allows for the creation of a local
chapter that is affiliated with a college or university campus.
FREQUENTLY USED
TERMS