Speak Greek To Me
Here's a glossary of some commonly used vocabulary within Greek Life!
ACTIVE
A sorority woman who has been formally initiated by her chapter.
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ALUMNA
An initiated sorority member who is no longer in college but
can provide recommendations for her sorority.
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BID
A formal invitation to join a sorority or fraternity issued by an individual chapter.
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BIG SISTER
An active member who serves as a mentor to a New Member.
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CHAPTER
A local group of a national organization, designated by its own Greek letter name.
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CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING (COB)
An opportunity for chapters who are not at quota or total to extend bids to women who did not join a sorority during Formal Recruitment.
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PRIMARY PANHELLENIC RECRUITMENT
A series of events given by each sorority designed to introduce sorority life to potential new members. Primary Panhellenic Recruitment occurs at UF each fall and is scheduled by the Panhellenic Council.
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HOUSE DIRECTOR
A person hired by the housing corporation board of a chapter to live in the chapter house and supervise the day-to-day activities of live-in members.
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INITIATION
The formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership. Each chapter has its own set of requirements and rituals for initiation.
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INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC)
The governing body of 25 social fraternities at UF.
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INTER/NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
The central organization of a particular organization.
LEGACY
A prospective member whose grandparent, parent, or sibling
is an alumnus of, or active in, a particular chapter. Please
note that chapters are not obligated to extend bids to legacies.
MRABA
MRABA stands for Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement. It is the agreement signed at the end of Preferential Round stating that a PNM is willing to accept a
bid from the chapter(s) listed on the document.
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MULTICULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL (MGC)
The governing body of 14 culturally based social fraternities and sororities at UF.
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NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC)
The governing body for the historically Black sororities and fraternities at UF. Also referred to as the Divine Nine.​
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NEW MEMBER
A member of a chapter going through the new member
process before Initiation.
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NEW MEMBER EDUCATOR
The liaison between new members and the chapter. Responsible for implementing and monitoring the new
member program and preparing new members for Initiation.
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ORDER OF OMEGA
A leadership honor society for members of Greek
organizations on campus.
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PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
The governing body for National Panhellenic Conference sororities/women's fraternities at UF.
PHILANTHROPY
A charitable fundraiser sponsored by a sorority or fraternity.
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POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER (PNM)
Any eligible student participating in the Recruitment or COB process.
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PANHELLENIC COUNSELOR (PI CHI)
A trained Panhellenic sorority member who has disassociated herself from her chapter during Formal Panhellenic Recruitment in order to counsel and assist potential new members
during recruitment.