Greek Terms

Joining a sorority can be an overwhelming experience. That's why we've designed this section of our website to help acquaint you with some of the terminology we use in the Greek community.

Recruitment: The process by which women are selected for membership in a sorority. At Kansas State University, this is done through a mutual selection process.
Potential Member: An undergraduate woman seeking membership in a sorority.
Bid: An invitation to become a member of a sorority.
New Member: An undergraduate woman who has undergone a recruitment process and has accepted a bid to become a member of a sorority.
Initiation: The ceremony in which a new member receives full membership privileges.
Initiated Member: An undergraduate woman who has been initiated into a sorority and receives full membership privileges.
Sister: A term used within a sorority when referring to new, initiated, or alumnae members.
Alumna: Singular feminine term indicating a member who has graduated from a university.
Alumnae: Plural feminine term indicating members who have graduated from a university.
Legacy: A woman whose grandmother, mother, step-mother, aunt, sister, or step-sister are alumnae women of Sigma Kappa Sorority. The definition of this term may vary by sorority.
Chapter: A chartered collegiate or alumnae group recognized by a national sorority.
Chapter meetings: Meetings held by a sorority chapter once a week. At Kansas State University, chapter meetings are held on Wednesday evenings.
Greek: A general term applied to members affiliated with Greek-letter organizations.
Greek Affairs: The arm of Kansas State University that oversees the sororities and fraternities on campus and ensures the safety and welfare of each Greek member through its rules and regulations.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): A national conference comprised of 26 women's Greek-letter organizations which work together in a bond of mutual respect to share information and strengthen the entire fraternity community. The word "panhellenic" is derived from the Greek "pan" meaning all and "hellenic" meaning Greek. NPC is an organization of all Greek women.
Panhellenic Council: Kansas State University's local college Panhellenic association in which each sorority on campus is represented.

The Greek Alphabet

Α	Alpha	Η	Eta	Ν	Nu	Τ	Tau
Β	Beta	Θ	Theta	Ξ	Xi	Υ	Upsilon
Γ	Gamma	Ι	Iota	Ο	Omicron	Φ	Phi
Δ	Delta	Κ	Kappa	Π	Pi	Χ	Chi
Ε	Epsilon	Λ	Lambda	Ρ	Rho	Ψ	Psi
Ζ	Zeta	Μ	Mu	Σ	Sigma	Ω	Omega