The basic concept is simple. A sorority or frat becomes a family. The words we’re defining today put a name to the pairing between a person who is undergoing the intake process and a current member of the organization. The purpose is to offer guidance, and special attention, guide them through the pledge process. Once the intake process complete, that bond doesn’t sever. The older brother or sister takes their respective little brother, little sister or ism under their wing and brings them into the fold of the sorority. It is truly a special bond that is shared between the pair.

The difference in wording can be attributed to how the pairings are done by the varying types of organizations. Big Brothers/Big Sister is commonly used by members of the NPC and IFC to define the pairing. NALFO, and NMGC organizations typically use big brothers and big sisters as well, and sometimes variations of it ( i.e Sigma Lambda Gamma and Sigma Lambda Beta who use mom/daughter and father/son respectively.)

NPHC on the other hand likes to use the term izm. Like we mentioned in an earlier post, members of the NPHC pledge in a line. So their focus is on that type of intake and the number assigned to the potential new member as they undergo the intake process. The way they do their pairings is a bit different. One specific big brother or big sister isn’t assigned to a potential new member. How it works as that there is an affinity created by those who shared the same place (Number) in the line. In short, it’s one big numerical family.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting a little further insight into Greek Life and some of the jargon commonly used. Stay tuned for a more in depth look at the different National Greek Councils next week.

Enjoy the footage from a Kappa Alpha Psi Show

Prophyte Entrance

Neophyte Entrance

Any greek will tell you they love all their brothers or sisters.  While this may be true, there is a special bond that is forged with the men or women who go through recruitment and the pledge process with you.  That alone adds great value to both of the words, yet there is also a significance in the fact the choosing one over the other can offer a glimpse into the type of organization joined, and perhaps even into pledge process the person underwent. Although some use the terms “line” or “pledge class” interchangeable,  there are also some serious distinctions.

Pledge Classes

Used most commonly by the NPC and IFC, it is the term describe the group of men and women who are going through/or went through the intake process for the organization  together.

Lines

Commonly used by members of the NPHC, MGC, and NALFO and other minority greeks for the group those who went through the intake process to join the frat or sorority at the same time.

More greek jargon to come later this week.

We will start the series with three very important words to describe groups of Greeks: Neophyte, Prophyte, and Sandz.

Neophyte

Neophyte or “Neo,” is the term commonly used to the describe the newest brothers and sisters of an organizations.  The term is applicable until the next time your chapter does recruitment, and brings in another new pledge class or line.

Prophyte:

Though not as commonly used, Prophyte is a word used to categorize those members of the organization that went through the intake process, and pledged prior to at least another line or class.  Being a prophyte is a humbling experience, as you get to delve deeper into your organization and begin to give back.  Also, it offers the opportunity to see the intake process from the other side.

Sandz:

Commonly used by members of the NPHC, MGC, and NALFO and other minority greeks to define the bond shared by members of different greek letter organizations who pledged during the same semester.

Stay tuned for more greek jargon this week.