Alumnae

Member of a sorority who has graduated.

Alumni

Member of a fraternity who has graduated.

Bid

An invitation to join a fraternity or a sorority. A student can accept only one.

Breaker

Term used by NPHC groups to describe a dance held on the BGSU campus for members and invited guests. Normally about one such event is held every other week. These are a social outlet for students on the campus and a source of revenue for the hosting group.

Chapter

A term used to refer to undergraduate fraternity or sorority students in a particular Greek organization. This term is also used nationally to distinguish one group of students on a particular campus from those on another campus. Many national groups give their chapters names such as a Greek letter, or a combination of letters, or a Greek letter and a state. Examples are Ohio Epsilon or Delta Theta of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Crossing

A term used by NPHC groups to indicate that a new member has been fully initiated into the group. May also use the term "cross the sands."

Fraternity

A group of men bonded together by their ritual that contains the founding principles, ideals and aspirations of the group.

Gamma Sigma Alpha - National Greek Academic Honor Society

Gamma Sigma Alpha is committed to the leadership, academic achievement, and excellence of Greek members everywhere. Students must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and junior or senior status. Applications are accepted each semester, with applicants who meet the criteria automatically granted membership. A one-time fee of is charged, for which members receive a certificate and a pin.

Greek Independent Board (GIB)

Governing board or umbrella organization for the three Greek groups not part of the other three councils.

InterFraternity Council (IFC)

The governing body of the usually NIC fraternities on a particular campus.

Intake

The term NPHC groups use when they bring new members into their organization. Each NPHC group (there are 5 groups at BGSU and 9 nationally) determines when they will conduct intake, and thus no two NPHC groups will conduct intake together. Each group is assisted in this process by their Graduate Chapter (a group of alumni in the BG/Toledo area). In general, NPHC groups require sophomore status and a 2.5 cumulative GPA for someone to go through intake.

Line

Being "on line" is a term for when a student is joining an NPHC group. In 1990 all 9 NPHC groups prohibited "pledging" and began a process called intake (see definition above).

Legacy

Someone whose mother, father, sister or brother, are members of a particular group. Some consider an aunt or an uncle a legacy also.

National Organizations NPC (National Panhellenic Conference)

The national group of 26 women's sororities in North America. Representatives from each national sorority get together to support and promote sororities across North America.

NIC (North American Interfraternity Conference)

The national group of 62 men's fraternities in North America. Representatives from each national fraternity get together to promote fraternities across the country. They work to promote fraternities and Greek Life.

NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council)

The umbrella organization for the 8 African-American fraternities (4) and sororities (4).

New Member

A term used to refer to a new member of a fraternity or a sorority. After the recruitment period, new members learn the history of their national and local chapters, learn the ideals and principles of the group, get to know their fellow new members and get to know the initiated members.

NPHC (National Pan - Hellenic Council)

The governing body for the 5 historically African-American fraternities and sororities at BGSU.

Order of Omega - National Greek Leadership Honor Society

Limited to top 3% of Greeks at BGSU. Must have a 2.87 GPA, junior or senior status, significant leadership and service to the campus and the Greek community. Applications are accepted each semester, with the current student members selecting the new members. Students that are selected pay a one-time fee, for which they receive a certificate and a pin. Order of Omega also selects an Honor Initiate each semester. This person must have given significantly for the improvement of the BGSU Greek Community.

Panhellenic Council

The governing body for the sororities at a particular campus.

Plot

A section of the campus where NPHC groups have sections to display their symbols. This area acts as a place where undergraduates and graduates (alumni) gather when on the campus.

Probate Show

A term used by NPHC groups to designate the time when new members of such groups come out to the campus. Those joining an NPHC group are generally not known and thus it is a time when the new members are revealed. Typically stepping is demonstrated as well as testimonials from the new members. Parents and other students are generally in attendance.

Regional Organizations

Note: the country is divided up into 4 sections (Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, and West). Each section has a conference for Greek students and in February or March. We belong to the Mid-American region. Mid-American Greek Council Association organized to provide advice and support for fraternity and sorority councils throughout the region. A Thursday - Saturday Leadership Conference is held in February that is attended by fraternity and sorority members and advisors from the Midwest. MGCA is inclusive of all fraternity and sorority chapters from IFC, Multicultural Councils, NPHC, and Panhellenic.

Recruitment (a.k.a. Rush)

The time when fraternities and sororities recruit new members. IFC fraternities usually recruit the first two weeks of each semester. Panhellenic sororities usually recruit the first 3 weeks of Fall semester and the first 2 weeks of the Spring semester (although not all groups participate in this process). For NPHC groups, they recruit, called "intake" when each chapter decides (each NPHC group will conduct recruitment
separately).

Sorority

A group of women bonded together by their ritual that contains the founding principles, ideals and aspirations of the group.

Stepshow

Each Spring the NPHC sponsors a Stepshow in conjunction with Greek Week. The show has been a large success and attendance is usually very large. A significant amount of the money raised is given to an endowed scholarship fund that provides financial assistance for deserving minority students at Penn State. Since this show is such a big tradition, a considerable number of alumni return to campus for this event.

UIFI (Undergraduate Inter Fraternity Institute)

A four day leadership school held each summer (sessions run throughout the summer for student's convenience) that brings together 50 Greek students from across the country. Students stay in a sorority house on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis, Indiana or at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. This is one of the best leadership schools in the country and is tailored exclusively for Greek leaders. The presidents of the three councils (IFC, Panhellenic & NPHC) and one other executive committee member usually attend UIFI along with chapter presidents and others who wish to attend.

Yard

A term used by NPHC groups to indicate the campus. Use in phrases such as which groups are on the yard, meaning which groups are on the campus.