Greek Letters

Eastern Kentucky University has many student organizations that are identified by Greek Letters. Here is a guide to Greek alphabet and the pronunciation of the name of each letter -- so now you can sound like you know what you're talking about (even if you don't)!

Sorority Speak

Women who are in Sororities at Eastern Kentucky University sometimes talk in lingo that sounds like riddles to the outsiders. In order to help the outsider better understand this lingo, here are a few definitions.

A

Active - a person who has been initiated into a lifelong membership of a sorority and is in good standing with this soroity

Alumna - a sorority member who is no longer a student

Alumnae - more than one sorority member who are no longer students

B

Badge - the symbol worn by initiated members of a Greek-letter organization

Bid - a formal invitation to join a Greek-letter organization

Big - short for "Big Sister"

C

Candlelighting/Candlepass - a ceremony where a member reveals receiving a lavalier, fraternity pin, or engagement ring

Chapter - the campus group of a national Greek-letter organization

College Chapter Director - an alumna who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher, counselor, and friend

Colony - a student organization in the final stage before being installed as a chartered chapter of a Greek-letter organization

Colors - the official pair or triad of colors that represent a specific Greek organization

Continuous Open Bidding (COB) - a process that allows chapters below their quota to continuously rush and bid new members outside of the official rush period

D

Deactivate - the formal process by which an initiated member deaffiliates herself from the sorority

Dry - term used to describe events where alcohol is forbidden

E

Extension - the process of establishing new chapters

F

Formal Recruitment - the official recruitment period of the school year

Founders' Day - the date celebrating the founding of a sorority

G

Good Standing - a status reached upon the fulfillment of all financial and scholastic obligations to a chapter

Greeks - students affiliated with Greek-letter organizations

Greek Week - an annual five day period in spring quarter that celebrates the positive aspects of belonging to a Greek letter organization

H

Hazing - any willful act or practice by a member directed against a member or associate member, which is likely to: cause bodily harm or danger, offensive punishment, or disturbing pain; compromise her dignity; cause embarrassment or public shame; cause her to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule; cause psychological harm or substantial emotional strain; impair academic efforts

I

Inactive - a member attending the same institution in which her undergraduate chapter is located who has no material participation in undergraduate chapter activities

Informal Recruitment - a continuous, open recruitment period with no specific activities of rushing and pledging

Initiate - a member who is undergoing or has undergone the initiation ceremony

Initiation/Initiation Ceremony - a formal ceremony by which new members become active members

Installation - the establishment of a new chapter

Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) - the governing body of the fraternities at EKU

L

Lavalier - a piece of jewelry with the letters of one's sorority

Lavaliering - the practice of a fraternity member giving his lavalier to a woman, signifying their committed relationship

Legacy - a member whose mother, sister, or grandmother was a member of the same sorority

Letters - a specific group of Greek letters chosen to represent a certain Greek organization

Little - short for "Little Sister"

M

Mascot - an animal chosen to represent a Greek letter organization

N

New Member - a woman who has accepted a bid to join a sorority, but has not yet been inititated

New Member Period - the time between the acceptance of a bid and initiation

P

Panhellanic Council - the governing body of the sororities at EKU

Pan - short for Panhellenic council

Philanthropy - a designated non-profit organization for whom

Pin - the symbol worn by initiated members of a Greek-letter organization; also another name for a badge

Pinning - the practice of a fraternity member giving his badge to a woman

Q

Quota - the maximum number of people allowed to belong to a chapter of a Greek letter organization

R

Rho Chi - an initiated member of a sorority who guides potential sorority members through formal rush

Ritual - the sacred ceremonies practiced by every chapter of a Greek letter organization

Recruitment - a series of events offering members and potential members the opportunity to get to know each other

S

Sister - an initiated member of a sorority

Sorority - an individual women's Greek-letter organization
 
 

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