| Term | Definition |
| active |
A fully initiated member of a fraternity or sorority. |
| alumna (fem.) |
An initiated member of a sorority no longer enrolled as an undergraduate student (i.e. graduated); plural is alumnae. |
| alumnus (masc.) |
An initiated member of a fraternity no longer enrolled as an undergraduate student (i.e. graduated); plural is alumni. |
| bid |
An invitation to membership from a fraternity/sorority to a potential new member. |
| brother |
A member of a fraternity. |
| chapter |
The local collegiate membership of a fraternity/sorority. |
| continuous open bidding |
For Panhellenic: Also called open bidding and informal membership recruitment; COB bids may be extended and accepted at any time during the school year other than formal recruitment. |
| dry recruitment |
The practice of not serving alcoholic beverages at any Binghamton University recruitment functions. |
| formal recruitment |
The period of time of membership recruitment by some Greek organizations (prior to the new member [pledge] process) where students meet fraternities and sororities through activities and events. |
| induction |
The traditional ritual which brings a student into the new member education process of a fraternity/sorority. |
| initiation |
The traditional ritual which brings the new member into full membership in the fraternity/sorority. |
| intake/pledging/new member period |
Process for which new members are educated about a chapter's history, organization, members and tenets of fraternity/sorority life. |
| legacy |
A potential new member whose parents or siblings were a member of a fraternity/sorority. |
| local |
A group existing only at Binghamton University and/or local schools, not affiliated with a National organization. |
| new member |
An individual who has accepted a bid and is engaged in preparing for initiation. |
| pledge |
Another name for a new member not yet a brother or sister. A new member pledges commitment to learn about the organization and uphold its ideals. |
| ritual |
An activity which bonds the organization together and is traditionally secretive. |
| rush |
Another name for formal recruitment process. |
| potential new member |
A person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority. |
| sister |
A member of a sorority. |
