Defining Greek Life

ACTIVE: an undergraduate member who has been initiated into life-long membership.

BADGE/PIN: worn by new or active members to designate that they are joining or a part of a specific organization.

BID: an invitation to a potential new member to join a sorority or fraternity.

BIG SISTER/BROTHER: an older member of the chapter who serves as a role model and mentor to a new member or “little sister/brother.”’

CBFO: culturally-based fraternal organizations

CHAPTER: the name applied to the local organization of an inter/national fraternity or sorority.

CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING (COB) : an informal recruitment process that Panhellenic sororities use to recruit new members outside of the designated primary recruitment period

CROSSED: the process of completing the intake process and becoming a full member of a chapter.

DIRTY RECRUITMENT: when a chapter violates a recruitment policy such as, but not limited to, promising membership before a bid is given, extending a bid too early, recruiting with alcohol, pressuring a potential new member to accept a bid, or speaking poorly of another organization.

FAMILY: the connected bigs and littles in a chapter which makes a family tree dating back each semester or year.

FIJI ISLAND: the open area in Fraternity Park where many chapters host philanthropy events and gatherings.

FORMAL OR PRIMARY RECRUITMENT: a designated membership recruitment time period during which a series of organized activities are held by each fraternity/ sorority and governed by Panhellenic or IFC.

FRATERNITY PARK: the location of 13 fraternity houses located in the south area of campus near The Rock.

GAMMA CHI/RECRUITMENT CAPTAIN: Gamma Chi (Panhellenic) and Recruitment Captain (IFC) are members of the community that serve as mentors and guides through the recruitment process. They oversee a group of students and are a point person for communication and assistance.

GREEK LIFE: also known as “Sorority & Fraternity Life,” Greek Life refers to sororities and fraternities because of their history as Greek-lettered organizations. Because not all of our chapters use or publicize Greek letters, we use “sorority and fraternity life.”

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC); the governing body of the men’s fraternity system at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

INITIATION: the inter/national ritual ceremony through which new members learn the full meaning of their organization, promise to uphold the standards of the organization, and receive life-long membership.

INTAKE: the period of education before initiation when MGC/ NPHC new members learn the history and traditions of their organizations.

INTEREST MEETING: a meeting for potential new members to receive information about and meet members of an MGC/ NPHC organization.

LEGACY: a potential new member who is the sibling, child, nephew/ niece, or grandchild or an active member or alumni of a fraternity or sorority.

LINE/SHIP: a group of new members in a specific MGC/ NPHC chapter (within a specific semester).

MULTICULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL (MGC): the governing body of the multicultural sorority and fraternity system at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC): the governing body for the eight historically, but not exclusively, African-American fraternities and sororities (“Divine Nine”) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

NEOPHYTE/NEO: a term used for new members of an MGC/NPHC organization.

NEW MEMBER: a student who has accepted a bid or invitation for membership into a fraternity or sorority, but has not been initiated.

NEW MEMBER PRESENTATION: an event where newly initiated members of an MGC/NPHC organization perform step routines and reveal themselves to the public after their intake period.

PANHELLENIC COUNCIL (Panhellenic): the governing body of the women’s sorority system at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER (PNM): a student who is interested in becoming a member of a Greek organization.

PROPHYTE: a term used for a member who is responsible for educating and mentoring new member(s) in an MGC or NPHC organization.

SORORITY VILLAGE: the location of 14 sorority facilities located west of campus across from Alcoa Highway.

STEPPING OR STEP SHOW: a tradition of NPHC organizations where routines are performed. A series of complex, synchronous and precise rhythmic movements, typically performed to songs or chants created by member organizations.

STROLLING: precise and synchronized movements performed in unison by members of culturally-based fraternities and sororities.

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