Parents’ Guide to Fraternity and Sorority Life
- Greek Life in the 21st Century: An Overview
- Reasons Why You Student Should "Go Greek"
- Knowing the System and Learning the Language
- Joining a Greek Organization
- San Diego State University and the Greek Community
Knowing the System
Understanding the Structure
Greek-letter social fraternities and sororities generally are members of an umbrella conference or council. At San Diego State University, all Greek chapters belong to one of four campus-based councils that provide leadership and support for all council members: Interfraternity Council (IFC) representing general sororities, Panhellenic Association representing general fraternities, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) representing the historically African-American fraternities and sororities and the United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) representing the culturally-based fraternities and sororities.
Recognition
Granting "on campus status" is the process by which San Diego State University extends its support for a chapter to operate on the SDSU campus. Chapters must meet certain standards and requirements in order to be granted on-campus status. On-campus status may be withdrawn for failure to adhere to these standards.
Please note that Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) had its on-campus status suspended for an indefinite period in 2000 for hazing and alcohol violations.
Each chapter abides by its own local constitution, bylaws and rules, and those affiliated with (inter)national organizations also have national policies. As students, fraternity and sorority members are also bound by the San Diego State University policies governing student conduct and Greek chapters must adhere to campus policies governing student organizations. The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life serves as liaison between campus chapters and the University administration, advocating for and guiding members as well as enforcing policies when necessary. The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life also serves as a liaison between the local chapter and their (inter)national organization.
Learning the Language
Fraternities and sororities have a language all their own. Here are some common references and their definitions.
ACTIVE MEMBER (often referred to as BROTHER OR SISTERS) - Refers to a member who has gone through a new-member process and has been initiated, through a ritual, into the chapter.
ALUMNI (or GRADUATE member) – An initiated member who has been graduated. Some organizations confer alumni status after an initiate has been an active member for four or more years.
BID - An invitation from a chapter to join the organization.
BID MATCHING –In the conclusion of the fall recruitment process for Panhellenic Association (general sororities), each potential new member submits a prioritized choice of sororities they would like to join and each sorority submits a prioritized list of women to whom they are interested in offering a bid. A computerized matching process is used to determine which sorority each participant will be invited to join. Every potential new member may not receive a bid to her favorite chapter since the Panhellenic Association sororities have a maximum number of bids (QUOTA) that they can offer.
BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER – An active member assigned to be the personal mentor for a new member.
CHAPTER - A local group of a national organization.
CHAPTER ADVISOR – An alumnus/alumnae or faculty/staff member who serves in an advisory role to provide guidance to the organization.
CHAPTER HOUSE – Currently 25 fraternities and sororities at SDSU (all of the general fraternities and general sororities and two culturally-based fraternities) operate facilities near campus that provide residential space for members to live and facilities for chapter meetings and activities. Eight fraternities are part of a new residential fraternity complex, FRATERNITY ROW, managed by the SDSU Foundation.
COLONY – A newly formed affiliate of a national organization that has not yet received its charter. The members of a colony are referred to as "founders."
CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING ("COB" or INFORMAL RECRUITMENT) – At the conclusion of the fall recruitment process for the Panhelllenic Association sororities, those chapters with a membership size less than a specified number (TOTAL) can continue to give out bids via an informal recruitment process.
EXCHANGE – A theme party with a fraternity and a sorority. A formal exchange held at the end of Recruitment Week is called a PREFERENCE PARTY or simply PREF.
FRATERNITY - A Greek-letter social or honorary organization (informally applied to men’s groups).
GAMMA – Stands for "Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol," a peer organizations that promotes responsible use of alcoholic beverages within the Greek community.
GREEK – An informal name for a member of a fraternity or sorority.
GREEK WEEK – A week of activities involving all SDSU fraternities and sororities to promote Greek unity and to raise funds for a charitable beneficiary.
HAZING – Mental or physical abuse or harassment of a member. Hazing is prohibited by university policy, State law, and the policies of national fraternities and sororities.
HOUSE CORPORATION – Alumni organization which owns and/or manages a chapter house.
HOUSE DIRECTOR(sometimes called HOUSE MOTHER) – A live-in employee of a residential sorority hired to manage the chapter house.
INITIATION - Ritualistic ceremony during which new members receive lifelong membership privileges.
INTAKE – The membership recruitment and induction process for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (historically African-American fraternities and sororities)
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC) – The governing/coordinating student council for the general fraternities and sororities. All IFC member organizations are chapters of a fraternity affiliated with the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
LINE – Term sometimes used by various culturally-based Greek organizations to refer to the members who join the same semester.
LEGACY – A student who has a brother/sister, mother/father, aunt/uncle, and/or grandfather/grandmother who is a member of a particular fraternity or sorority. Legacies are often granted special consideration in the membership recruitment process but never guaranteed membership.
LOCAL – A fraternity or sorority not affiliated with a national or regional organization. Currently five SDSU culturally-based fraternities and sororities are local organizations.
NATIONAL – The national or international organization to which a chapter is affiliated. Most have a national board of directors, comprised primarily of alumni, and national headquarters with support staff.
NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC) – The governing/coordinating council for the historically African-American fraternities and sororities.
NEW MEMBER (Some organizations use other terms such as PLEDGE, ASSOCIATE, CANDIDATE, OR LINE BROTHER/SISTER) - One who has been accepted as a probationary member of a sorority or fraternity but has not yet been initiated. Collectively, the New Members who join the same semester are called the NEW MEMBER CLASS OR PLEDGE CLASS.
NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROCESS – The time period in which candidates for active membership (or new members) learn about the organization and participate in brotherhood/sisterhood activities.
ORDER OF OMEGA – An national honor society recognizing fraternity and sorority members who excel in academic achievement, Greek leadership and campus involvement.
PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION – The governing/coordinating council for the general sororities. (Note: Panhellenic means "all-Greek"). All Panhellenic Association member sororities are affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).
PIN – The fraternity/sorority badge of membership.
RECRUITMENT (sometimes called RUSH) -The membership recruitment process. Potential New Members are sometimes referred to as RUSHEES.
SIGMA RHO CHI – Stands for "Sorority Recruitment Counselor;" active Panhellenic Association members who assist women participating in Panhellenic Recruitment. Formally referred to as RHO CHI.
SORORITY – A social fraternity for women.
UNITED SORORITY AND FRATERNITY COUNCIL (USFC) – The governing/coordinating council for the culturally-based fraternities and sororities, which currently includes chapters that are Latino/a, Asian, Jewish, or multicultural in focus. The Latino/a-based fraternities and sororities are chapters of organizations affiliated with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS (NALFO).