Greek Glossary

The following represents a list of commonly used terms within the Greek Community:

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

Bid - a formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority

Chapter - A local branch of a national Greek organization. Each fraternity and sorority at Gettysburg has a unique chapter designation; for example, we are home to the Alpha Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

College Owned Fraternity Houses - Fraternity houses which are owned and maintained by Gettysburg College. 

Formal Membership Recruitment - 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, Panhellenic Council, and the office of Greek Organizations. Historically referred to as "Rush"

Formal Membership Education - a College-specified period of time following recruitment in which new members learn about the history and culture of the chapter they have pledged themselves to. Gettysburg College's education period is currently four weeks

House - Independent living unit owned by a chapter's alumni, or Gettysburg College. Many chapter members will be required to live in the chapter house at some point during their college years. A Greek organization should not be referred to as a "house", since "house" actually refers to the building that their members may or may not live in.

Greeks - Members of a fraternity or sorority. The term "Greek" is used because a majority of fraternities and sororities use Greek letters to distinguish themselves.

Hazing - Gettysburg College definition of Hazing - Any action taken, created, or situated (on or off campus) to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule that is directed at new or prospective members of a recognized student organization. Gettysburg College opposes all forms of hazing.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) - A representative government body of fraternities affiliated with the National Interfraternity Conference (all the fraternities at Gettysburg).

Initiate - a full, initiated member of the chapter

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

Life Safety Initiative - A document, issued by the Gettysburg College Board of Trustees, which outlines various standards with respect to organizational behavior and residential safety measures.

New Member or Associate Member - Formerly known as a "pledge", a man or woman who has accepted an invitation to join a Greek organization, but has not yet been initiated.

Order of Omega - National Honor society that recognizes and promotes Greek leadership and scholastics.

Panhellenic Council (PHC) - A representative government body of sororities affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (Five sororities at Gettysburg are members of the National Panhellenic Conference and one, Sigma Gamma Rho, is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and acts as an associate member of Gettysburgs Panhellenic Council). 

Privately Owned Chapter Houses - Fraternity houses which are owned and maintained by a board of chosen alumni whom were members of that house during their Gettysburg Tenure.

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

Quota - The number each sorority may initiate during a given semester.

Rho Chi - A Recruitment Counselor.  A member of a sorority that has disaffiliated from her organization during recruitment week to assist students interested in joining the Greek Community.