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Being Greek

by Jennifer Ostermann

Are you Greek?? No? Well, you should be! Ok, so I don’t mean that you should be the nationality, Greek, but I mean you might think about joining the Greek System at Sacramento State University. This “system” is known as the fraternities and sororities of the university.

Fraternities

Fraternities are groups of guys that come together supporting brotherhood, leadership, scholarship, social services, and community service. They are full of guys with leadership skills and if not, they are ready to learn them. Fraternities offer a place for guys to go. You get to have a small close group of friends, like family, hence “brothers”. Curtis Gilzean from Tau Kappa Epsilon says, “Since joining my fraternity I’ve had many opportunities open up for me. Besides the friends I already had, I now have a whole group of brothers who have been through the same experiences as me.” If you would like more information about fraternities you could visit:

http://www.csus.edu/studentactivities/clubs_frat.htm

Sororities

Sororities are sisterhood organizations with chapters at accredited colleges and universities. As extended family units, sororities offer warm, caring atmospheres which encourage individual development. Sororities promote sound scholarship, leadership ability, community outreach and life-long friendships. Sorority life will help you make the most of your college experience as you join together with women who share your interests and ideals. Katie from Gamma Phi Beta said, “Being a pledge in a sorority has been so much fun. You get to meet a lot of new girls that have the same interests as you.” If you would like more information about sororities you could visit:

http://www.csus.edu/studentactivities/clubs_soro.htm

Greek Terms

There are some words that will hear being used by some of the “brothers” or “sisters” that will sound foreign to you. These are word such as chapter, rush, pledge, mixer, etc. Here is a list of words found on:

http://www.csus.edu/org/greek/rush/greekspeak.htm

Active - A fully initiated member of a fraternity or sorority.

Alumnus(plural: alumni) - A member of a fraternity who has graduated from college.

Bid - An invitation to membership from a fraternity to a rushee.

Brother - A term used by initiated members in a fraternity when referring to each other.

Fraternity - A group of individuals bound together by common goals and rituals.

Greek - A member of a fraternity or sorority.

Independent - A person who is not a member of a fraternity or sorority.

IFC - Interfraternity Council, the representative governing body of all fraternities on campus choosing to participate in the council.

Legacy - A rushee of a fraternity who is the son, brother, or other relative of a member of the fraternity.

Panhellenic - the representative governing body of all sororities on campus choosing to participate in the council.

Pin - The member pin is worn on the chest designating an iniate of a fraternity.

Pledge - A trial member of a fraternity, who is working to become an initiate.

Rush - The activity by which a fraternity seeks new members.

Rushee - A person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity.

How to get in one (Rush Information)

Every year/semester frats and sororities have a rush week. This is where new people can sign up to be in the group. When they pick you to be in their sorority/fraternity, you are then referred to as a pledge. To become a rush, during the first few weeks of each semester, there should be booths set up in the quad. The best thing to do is go up to each booth and check out each fraternity or sorority. This will give you a chance to scope out your choices. There is information about rush week, Greek life, and information for your parents at this site:

http://www.csus.edu/org/greek/rush.htm

Here is a List of Fraternities at CSUS

Zeta Beta Tau