Greek Dictionary

Alcohol Free Initiative
This is a national initiative that has prohibited all NPC (sorority) chapters from co-sponsoring any social events where alcohol is present. That means that all of our sorority chapters here at Salisbury are not permitted to co-sponsor (attend) any party or social where alcohol is being consumed starting in the fall semester 2000.

All-Greek Averages
All Greek averages are the mathematical GPA averages of all the fraternities and sororities put together. These figures are used to compare grades within student populations and to make inferences regarding programming.

Bid
A bid is a formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority. Bid's come in the form of an official bid card that is presented to you by members of the inviting organization. Traditionally, one accepts a bid at the end of the Rush/Recruitment at a function held by the inviting organization.

Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group (F.I.P.G.)
This is a consortium of Fraternities that have joined together for two reasons; First - To adopt a comprehensive Risk Management plan that would help reduce exposure to risk, and second - To use group purchasing power to gain better coverage and obtain lower premiums on insurance. Currently, six of our Greek letter organizations are members and subscribe to F.I.P.G. guidelines.

Greek Week
Greek week is a week that occurs during the Spring semester, and is completely planning and implemented by the Greek community. The week consists of various competitions such as a tug o' war, song fest', flag football, donut eating contest, and more. This week allows members of the Greek community an opportunity to show spirit for their organization and also for Salisbury University.

Hazing
Hazing is defined as "subjecting someone to abusive and/or humiliating mental or physical harm". This activity has been sanctioned by Salisbury University and is not tolerated by any of the national fraternities and sororities. Strict rules and penalties exist at Salisbury regarding the mental and/or physical abuse of anyone involved in the fraternity or sorority. Please refer to the Hazing statement and information section of the Greek Life pages.

Initiation
Initiation is a ritual that a fraternity or sorority holds in order to induct their "pledges" (also called associates or new members) into the organization. This also is a secret activity and is unique to each fraternity or sorority.

Interfraternity Council (IFC)
The governing body of the Fraternities on campus. All Fraternities are required to be in attendance through their president and their IFC representative, in order to conduct business. Meetings are held in parliamentary procedure and include reports from various IFC chairmen.

Legacy
A legacy is someone who has a member of their family in the fraternity or sorority they are looking into.

National Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
A consortium of National Fraternities and Sororities whose purpose is to define policies and procedures for National Greek Letter Organizations.

National Order of Omega
This is a National Honor Fraternity for Fraternity or Sorority members that maintain a grade point average above the All-Greek average, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Salisbury Greek community, have exemplary character and are either juniors or seniors. These individuals are nominated and voted upon by the university community and then inducted by current members of the Order, at the end of the year.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
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.

Nationals
Fraternity and Sorority members often refer to their national/international headquarters or offices as "Nationals". These offices are responsible for making policies for the individual chapters at different colleges and universities.

Panhellenic Council (PH)
The governing body of the sororities on campus.  Meetings are usually held on mondays at 12:30pm. All sororities are required to be in attendance through their president and their Panhel representative in order to conduct business.  The meeting follows parliamentary procedures and includes reports from the Panhel committee. Panhel promotes unity, equality, and sisterhood.

Philanthropy
This is a community service project held by a fraternity or sorority or both. Salisbury University Greek students perform a number of these projects each year, and most National Fraternities and Sororities require their chapters to do one large project per year. Our chapters are extremely involved in university and community service participating in such events as MS Walk, Chester community cleanup, events benefiting Cancer Research and also numerous food and clothing drives benefiting needy area residents. Salisbury University is very proud of the community service projects our students participate in every year.

Quota
During the Spring semester, sororities are required to follow very strict guidelines with respect to the number of new members they may accept into their organization in order to produce an equitable sorority system.

Rush / Recruitment
These events occur at the beginning of each semester and function as informative sessions for non-Greeks to get to know the members of our Fraternities and Sororities.

Risk Management
Risk management is a system for decreasing the chance for injury or accidents in a given area, in this case a fraternity or sorority house. Salisbury Universities Interfraternity Council has an elected Risk Manager that serves to protect Greek students and make and enforce rules. These Risk Management policies are to protect our fraternity and sorority members from issues relating to illegal drinking and substance use and abuse, fire code regulations, hazing, legal implications of fraternity and sorority affairs, and social events such as parties and socials. Salisbury University Greek members are an important part of the process of making and enforcing Risk Management policies.

Rituals
Rituals are activities usually secret in nature, known only to the members of a given fraternity or sorority. Rituals are what make a Greek letter organization unique and so often times these activities and the materials used to conduct these activities are held in the strictest of confidence among members.

Recruitment Counselors (Rho Delta's)
During Sorority Recruitment in the spring semester, Rho Delta's are designated for groups of women for the purpose of guiding them through the Recruitment process. Rho Delta women are specially trained and are unbiased members of the Greek community while the Recruitment period is taking place. As a woman going through Recruitment in the spring, you can rely on these guides to provide you with information on the various opportunities available within each sorority.

Social
An event that is held between a hosting fraternity (or sometimes two fraternities) and a sorority, (or sometimes two sororities). Typically these events have a theme.