As a Greek-letter member, I often hear, "What is that?", when talking to some of my non-Greek friends. And I understand what it must feel like for non-Greeks to talk to their Greek friends and hear something like, "Hey, there was this eternal who had the nerve to be up at regionals. But he's still a GDI, so we just laughed at him." What the heck does that mean? Well, I'm about to clear all this up for you.

Active members

Members who maintain financial status through paying dues. Those who do not are known as Inactive.

Dropping Line

To quit in the process of becoming a member.

Eternal

One who joins the ranks to achieve membership, but never becomes a member because they drop line.

G.D.I.

A general, but objectionable term that some Greeks use referring to non-Greeks.

Grad

A member of the organization that has graduated from college.

Grad Chapter

¹⁾ A collective group of graduated members that maintain financial status; ²⁾ The advisory support of the undergraduate chapter.

"Greek"

An abbreviated term for a Greek-lettered organization or member.

I.F.C.

Inter-Fraternal Council; the governing body for the predominantly white fraternities.

Informational

An informal gathering held by an organization to familiarize people with the members, ideals, and other points of interest. ^*Note* Non-Greeks should be aware that some Greek members will use functions like this to patronize interested students.

M.I.P.

Membership Intake Process; the process adopted by the NPHC and all of its members to put an end to dangerous rites of passage (known as hazing) and hazing deaths. ^*Note* Hazing is illegal in our organizations AND in the courts of law.

NPHC, or "The Pan"

The National Pan-Hellenic Council; the governing body for the nine Historically Black Greek-Letter Organizations (HBGLO). The organization was founded in 1930 and houses our fraternities and sororities together.

"Nalia", or "Perry"

Two abbreviated terms for paraphernalia. Abbreviations differ regionally.

Neo

An abbreviated term for the Greek word Neophyte, meaning beginner.

Non-, or Un-financially Active

A term unofficially reserved for those members who do not have the means to maintain active status, but continue to dedicate themselves to the organization through physical participation. ^*Note* These members are not officially affiliated with the graduate or undergraduate chapters and should not be consulted as advisory roles.

NPC

National Panhellenic Conference; the governing body for the predominantly white sororities.

Pledge:

To Pledge

¹⁾ (old meaning) to engage in a series of various (sometimes harmful) rites of passage in order to attain membership into an organization; ²⁾ (adaptation) to dedicate one's self to membership in an organization.

A Pledge

A person in the process of joining a Greek-letter organization.

Pledging

¹⁾ (old meaning) Engaging in a series of rites of passage to gain membership in a Greek-letter organization. ²⁾ (new context) Joining in M.I.P. ³⁾ (adaptation) The act of keeping the promises set forth in the pledge you take when becoming a member.