Ever been curious about Greek vocabulary? These are some of the most popular terms used.
Recruitment: The process in which non-Greek students seek out a sorority for membership.
Pictured: Julia S, Jessica R, Haley M recruiting at the 2016 Student Activities Fair
PNM (Potential New Member): A student exploring membership in a particular sorority before she becomes a full active member.
My PNM class of 2016.
Initiation: The traditional experience or process that brings a student from a pledge status to an active member status
Sister: Term used by sorority members when referring to each other
Big: Serve as mentors to littles. (A big’s mentor is called a grandbig in the view of the little) Works like typical family tree.
Little: All littles are assigned a big to guide them throughout the initiation process.
Here is an example of a multi generation family.
From left to right: Keanna (Little), Ashley (Big), Jessica (Grandbig), Hannah (Little)
Legacy: A recruitment/RUSH guest who is the daughter or sister of a member in the sorority
Hazing: Any action taken or any situation created that produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment or ridicule
Sorority: A group of women associated by the ties of sisterhood and purpose
Fraternity: A group of men associated by the ties of brotherhood and purpose
Pictured: Sisters of Lambda Sigma Tau and Brothers from Hamline’s Theta Chi at a yoga social.
(Source: Lambda Sigma Tau Initiation Manual and Historians)