College fraternities and sororities

Fraternities and sororities are social clubs at colleges and universities in North America. The words come from Latin, meaning "brotherhood" and "sisterhood." These groups are also called Greek life because they often use Greek letters in their names.

Students can join a fraternity or sorority while they are in school, and many stay connected for their whole lives. Some groups also allow students who have already graduated to join.

These clubs often help the community, hold parties, and teach members good manners. They also help graduates connect with others who were in the same group. In the United States, many of these groups are allowed to operate without paying certain taxes.

History

Further information: History of North American fraternities and sororities and Philhellenism

The words "fraternity" and "sorority" come from Latin words meaning "brother" and "sister." These groups began at colleges and universities. At first, only men could join fraternities, but later, women could join sororities too. Members call each other "brother" or "sister."

The first group that looked like today’s fraternities began at the College of William and Mary in 1776. More groups formed at other schools during the 1800s. Some were for social activities, while others focused on academics or special interests.

Sororities for women started later, in the mid-1800s. These groups grew even when it was hard for women to get equal treatment. Today, there are many fraternities and sororities in the United States and Canada, with millions of members.

Establishment and early history

Internationalization

Fraternities and sororities spread outside the United States in the late 1800s. The first one outside the U.S. was Chi Phi at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1867. Later, groups formed in Canada, starting with Zeta Psi at the University of Toronto in 1879.

In Asia, the first fraternities appeared in the Philippines when the American education system was introduced. The first was Upsilon Sigma Phi, founded in 1918.

Religion

Main articles: Christian fraternity (fraternities and sororities), Christian sorority, and List of Jewish fraternities and sororities

Early fraternities often mentioned Christian ideas or a higher power. Some only allowed Christian members, like Alpha Chi Rho and Alpha Kappa Lambda. Others focused on specific Christian groups, such as Lutheran or Catholic students.

Because Jewish students were not allowed in Christian groups, they formed their own fraternities starting in 1898 with Zeta Beta Tau. Today, some groups still focus on faith, while many have opened membership to all.

Multiculturalism

In the past, many fraternities and sororities did not allow people of different racial or cultural backgrounds. This led to the creation of groups for African American students, and later, groups for many different cultures. The National Multicultural Greek Council was formed in 1998 to bring these groups together.

The first multicultural sorority, Mu Sigma Upsilon, started in 1981 at Rutgers University. This helped create a movement for many different cultural groups to have their own fraternities and sororities.

Professional fraternities and sororities

Further information: Professional fraternities and sororities

These groups are for students and graduates in specific professions or fields of study. They help members connect and support their careers.

Service fraternities and sororities

Further information: Service fraternities and sororities

Some Greek organizations focus mainly on helping communities through service projects. Unlike other groups that might do service work as a secondary goal, these groups make it their primary purpose.

Structure and organization

Fraternities and sororities are social groups at colleges and universities. Traditionally, they were for men or women only, but some are now for both.

Alpha Sigma Phi chapter house at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Each group is run mostly by its student members, but alumni often own the buildings. All chapters of a single group are part of a larger national or international organization that makes rules. These larger groups are mostly run by alumni, with some help from students.

Leaders in a fraternity or sorority are like a small company's leaders. There is a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary, and other roles like recruitment chair and scholarship chair. These leaders are usually chosen each year by the members.

Membership profile

Fraternities and sororities are social clubs for students at colleges and universities in North America. Many of these clubs are found at schools in Canada and the United States.

These groups often help members succeed in school and careers. Students in these clubs are often more likely to graduate and do well in school. They also offer chances to meet important people and learn good habits. Many well-known leaders, including some U.S. presidents, have been members. Members also take part in helpful activities and social events.

Criticism

Fraternities and sororities have faced many concerns. Some people worry that they might exclude certain students or focus too much on having fun instead of learning. There have also been worries about unsafe activities that some members do.

Many colleges work to change how these groups operate to make them safer and fairer for everyone. Some schools have even stopped allowing fraternities and sororities because of these issues.

Some schools have special rules to make sure everyone is treated equally. For example, some colleges require all students to live on campus together, or they don’t allow fraternities and sororities at all.

Some members have been treated unfairly during a tradition called hazing, where older members give new members hard or unsafe tasks. Many schools and groups work hard to stop hazing, but it still happens sometimes.

Some people think these groups help members find jobs after college by connecting with other members. Others worry this isn’t fair to people who aren’t in these groups.

Some members of these groups have higher grades than other students. Some people think this is because they share answers and help each other too much on schoolwork, which isn’t fair.

Some researchers say that members of these groups sometimes treat others unfairly, especially people from different backgrounds. Because of this, some students from different backgrounds started their own groups to feel more welcome and included.

Fraternity and sorority vocabulary

Fraternities and sororities use special words and meanings for their members.

Some key words include:

Active – a student who has joined and become a member.
Alumni – a member who has finished college.
Auxiliary group – an informal group that works with a fraternity or sorority.
Badge – a pin that shows someone is a member.
Bid – an offer to join a fraternity or sorority.
Brother/Sister – words members use for each other.
Chapter – a local group of a fraternity or sorority.
Charter – a document that starts a new chapter.
Class/Line – members who joined at the same time.
Colony – a new chapter being formed.
Crossroads – a special ceremony for new members.
Geed or GDI – someone who is not in a fraternity or sorority.
Greek – a member of a fraternity or sorority.
Initiation – the ceremony where new members become full members.
Legacy – someone applying to join who is related to a current member.
Local/National/International – describes how many chapters a group has.
Pledge – someone who has accepted an offer but not yet become a full member.
Pledge pin – a pin worn by new members during their time as pledges.
Potential new member (PNM) – someone looking to join.
Rush – the time when people try to join a fraternity or sorority.
Rushee – someone trying to join.
Sign – a special hand signal members use.
Soror – a word sorority members use for each other.
Step dance – a dance done by some members.
Stepping – moving together without music.
Strolling – moving or dancing in a line without music.