Member Ed Dot Nu Phi Dot Net

Glossary
ACCESSAbility	A volunteer program through Push America which has a purpose to make homes accessible for people with disabilities by constructing wheelchair ramps.
Academic Coach	A special volunteer who is under a contractual agreement to deliver and administer Pi Kappa Phi's award winning Collegiate Success Program.
Active	An initiated collegiate member who is currently paying dues and is in good standing with the chapter as outlined by its bylaws and Code of Conduct.
Alumna	Plural - Alumnae A sorority member no longer at college.
Alumnus	Plural - Alumni A fraternity member no longer at college.
Alumnus Initiate	A member who is initiated after attending college.
Alumni Newsletter Program	A service provided by the National Headquarters to qualified chapters which produces two annual alumni publications per year. This program was formally know as CAR or Continuing Alumni Relations, Inc.
Archon	The highest ranking member in a collegiate chapter.
Associate Chapter	A group of men (usually not initiated) seeking to gain a charter from the fraternity to become a fully-functioning Chapter.
Associate Member	A man who has made a pre-initiation commitment to Pi Kappa Phi. This term is preferred over the word "pledge."
BACCHUS	A national collegiate organization which promotes the responsible use of alcohol.
Badge	The piece of jewelry signifying initiation into the fraternity.
Bid	An invitation to membership extended to a prospective member.
Blackball	A negative vote by an active member which prohibits the initiation of an associate member.
Blue Book	The operations manual for collegiate chapters. Gives job descriptions for each officer, explains the structure of the national fraternity, and explains risk management in detail.
Board of Governors	The Board of Governors consists of a selected group of prominent Pi Kappa Phi alumni who have exhibited exceptional leadership and/or supper to the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation.
Board of Alumni Advisors (BOAA)	A group of usually three local advisors to serve a chapter in its operations. The Chapter Advisor is the chairman of a Board of Alumni Advisors.
Brotherhood Meeting	A meeting designed for active members only. Often called BHM.
Cabinet	A special advisory committee established to keep an open dialogue and to encourage creative ways to utilize resources between these four major entities of Pi Kappa Phi. The Cabinet consists of the National President, National Vice President, Chairman of the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation, President of Push America and President of Pi Kappa Phi Properties.
CEO	Acronym for the paid Chief Executive Officer position who manages the fraternity. Answers to the National Council and is assisted by headquarters staff. Works out of the National Headquarters.
Chaplain	An officer elected to safeguard and coordinate activities involving ritual, primarily initiations.
Chapter	A group of Pi Kappa Phi members under a common charter.
Chapter Advisor	An alumnus volunteer appointed by the National President who directly advises a chapter's officers.
Chapter Strategic Plan	A document that is created by the chapter around the Seven Objectives of Chapter Excellence and acts as the guiding document to become a leading chapter on campus.
Chapter Strategic Planning Retreat	Special meeting called every year to create, review and reaffirm the Chapter Strategic Plan. One of the three essential retreats to be conducted each year.
Charter	An official fraternity document which grants authority for a chapter to function and initiate new members.
Code of Conduct	A special section of the chapter bylaws which describes the obligations of membership and expected conduct of a member.
Colony	A group of men (usually not initiated) seeking to gain a charter from the fraternity to become a fully-functioning Chapter.
College of Charleston	Located in Charleston, South Carolina. The College of Charleston is the birthplace of Pi Kappa Phi.
Collegiate Success Program	Pi Kappa Phi's exclusive program designed to promote a life-style of balance and academic achievement in its members. A component of the Journey of Pi Kappa Phi.
Composite	A collection of individual photographs showing the membership of a chapter in a given year.
Conclave	An annual meeting of all chapters in a region. Organized by the Regional Governer.
Council of Archons	An appointed committee of collegiate leaders who advise the fraternity's CEO and National Headquarters Staff.
Date Rape	Sexual intercourse forced on a woman by a man with whom familiarity exists. Force can mean: physical force, coercion or threat of violence. The act is punishable by applicable rape laws in each state.
District Counselor	An alumnus volunteer who assists an Regional Governor. Each region is broken down into districts consisting of 2-4 chapters. The District Counselor administers these chapters.
Dry Rush	The recruitment of new members without the use of alcohol. This is mandated by the Fraternity and is the norm at most colleges.
Durward W. Owen Interfraternalism Award	Awarded for exceptional meritorious service to the Greek community. Many outstanding leaders in the Greek world have been granted this honor.
Executive Council	The committee including the seven officers of a chapter. Sometimes, certain chairmen are included.
Executive Director	Another term for the CEO, or the paid Chief Executive Officer.
Expadgulate	A term meaning to unload oneself, such as "I'm going to expadgulate my mind on him!"
Expansion	The process of identifying and cultivating the potential for starting new chapters at non-Pi Kappa Phi campuses. Carried out by paid staff members at the National Headquarters.
FEA	Fraternity Executives Association. A national association specifically in place to assist fraternity headquarters staff. Pi Kapp Phi is a member.
F.I.P.G.	An association of national fraternities formed to assist in the management of insurance concerns and risk inherent in the Greek system.
Formal Rush	The organized period for the recruitment of new members, usually sponsored by an Interfraternity council.
Founding Father	Any member whose name appears on a charter or who is part of a group that regains a charter. Can also refer to the original members at the College of Charleston in 1904.
FRMT, Ltd.	FRMT, Ltd. is a Bermuda captive insurance company which provides liability insurance to its member fraternities.
GAMMA	Greeks Advocating Mature Moderation of Alcohol. An organization which is found on many campuses, headed by Greek leaders.
Gateway Society	The Gateways Society consists of certain alumni who choose to give all or part of their estate to the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation upon their death.
Gear Up Florida	A cycling event administered by Push America which begins in Miami and ends in Tallahassee. The team members of Gear Up Florida, will cover over 700 miles and appear in 12 cities raising funds and awareness for people with disabilities.
Give a Push Weekend	Give a Push Weekends are a national service project administered by Push America which provide funding and manpower to build and renovate structures such as accessible fishing piers, boardwalks, pavilions and playground facilities.
Gold Book	Contains the subordinate rituals of the fraternity as well as its Supreme Laws and Constitution.
Golden Legion	An honorary group for men who have been members of Pi Kappa Phi for 50 years or more.
Greater Fraternity	The term for the four major entities, chapters and individual members of the Pi Kappa Phi organization.
Greek Advisor	A campus staff person who is appointed to oversee the Interfraternity Council and administer campus programs for the Greek system.
Hazing	Any act committed toward an associate member which causes mental and/or physical degradation and/or discomfort. Condemned by the national fraternity and illegal under the laws of most states.
Historian	The collegiate officer elected to maintain ties with alumni and maintains chapter photos and history.
Honorary Fraternities	Fraternities whose members are chosen for academic or leadership achievements. Members of Pi Kappa Phi can join these organizations.
House	The living quarters of a fraternity chapter. The word "house" is often improperly used synonymously with the word "chapter."
Housing Corporation	A group of alumni legally registered to manage the permanent assets of a chapter. These groups typically own a chapter's house and see to the long-range financial planning.
Housemother	A woman paid by the chapter to live in the house and see to the day-to-day management of it. She usually becomes a beloved friend and advisor.
Informal Rush	The act of recruiting new members continuously during the school year, a highly desirable and important practice.
Initiation	A spiritually based ritual which marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to the fraternity.
Interest Group	A group of men who petition the national fraternity for associate chapter status.
Interfraternity Council	Also referred to as IFC. A group of fraternity men representing all fraternities on a campus which establishes guidelines for rush and conducts programs to benefit the chapters. Often acts as a liaison group between fraternities and the university.
Jack Casper Leadership Society	A special group of seven campus sophomore or junior leaders who are annually recognized and rewarded for their superior leadership and academic performance in the name of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Journey of Pi Kappa Phi	The name for Pi Kappa Phi's lifelong member development program.
Journey of Hope	An annual coast-to-coast bicycle trek made by Pi Kapps to raise money for the Push America and awareness for Americans with disabilities.
Lavaliere	A necklace and pendant of the fraternity's letters given by a man to his girlfriend. Perceived as the first step toward eventual engagement.
Leadership Consultant	A recently-graduated, paid fraternity staff member who travels from chapter to chapter advising on fraternity operations
Legacy	A male relative of an initiated member who is rushing. Usually given special consideration as an act of courtesy to the related member.
Life 401	Career and Life Planning seminar presented to graduating seniors as a component of the Journey of Pi Kappa Phi program.
Line-ups	A hazing practice in which associate members line up in order to be interrogated by active members. This practice is condemned by the national fraternity because of the negative impact it can have on a person's self-esteem, regardless of the severity of the activity.
Little Sisters	A group of women who exist to serve a fraternity chapter's members. Too often exploited and poorly-respected. Outlawed by Pi Kappa Phi and most other national fraternities.
Local Fraternity	A fraternity which exists on a campus but has no affiliation with a "national" fraternal organization. Many campuses will not allow local fraternities. "Locals" sometimes seek national affiliation.
Lodge	A building or room used by a chapter for meetings, social functions, etc., but which does not actually house the members.
Merit Citation	Given by the Supreme Chapter to a member who has exhibited exceptionally meritorious service to the fraternity. Only one award per 4,000 living members can be given out by the Supreme Chapter.
Mid Year Leadership Conference (MYLC)	A national leadership school which focuses on officer training and orientation held in different regionally based cities over four weekends every January.
Mr. Pi Kappa Phi	Awarded to the individual who stands above all others in the perfect exemplification of the ideal Pi Kappa Phi. The highest honor to be bestowed on a member of Pi Kappa Phi.
National Council	A board of seven alumni volunteers elected by the Supreme Chapter to govern the fraternity between Supreme Chapter meetings. The National Council is analogous to a corporate board of directors.
National President's Circle	A group of collegiate members who have made a commitment to support the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation financially before and after graduation.
NIC	North American Interfraternity Conference. A national greek organization association with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pi Kappa Phi is a member of the NIC.
No Boundaries Week	A week-long event that promotes all three focus areas of Push America: awareness, fund raising and volunteerism. No Boundaries Week held simultaneously across the nation and Pi Kapps from coast to coast participate in this events.
Nu Phi	The name of the Fraternity before it became Pi Kappa Phi at the College of Charleston.
Nu Phi Dot Net	The online resource for Pi Kappa Phi.
Nu Phi Society	An honor group for faithful alumni who have attended at least five Supreme Chapter meetings and make a lifetime financial commitment to the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation.
Officer Transition Retreat	A special meeting held within two weeks of officer elections designed to aid in the training of the new executive officers. One of the three essential retreats to be conducted each year.
Open Party	A social function without a prearranged guest list. Holding such a function is in direct violation of national policy if alcohol is present.
Oral Boards	A method of verbally testing an associate member's knowledge of the fraternity. Done just before initiation at some chapters. Not a "line-up."
Panhellenic Council	The governing body for sororities. The equivalent of the men's Interfraternity council.
Phillip M Summers Student of the Year	This is the highest award given to an undergraduate. This award is given to the student, whose abilities and accomplishments, inside and outside the classroom, have significantly affected his chapter, and generally brought credit to his fraternity.
Pi Kapp College (PKC)	Our preeminent national collegiate leadership school held in the summer, every other year.
Pi Kappa Phi Foundation	The fraternity's educational endowment fund which provides leadership programming and scholarships to collegiate members. Funded primarily by alumni donations and administered by a paid Executive Vice President.
Pi Kappa Phi Properties	The national housing corporation which assists qualified chapters in the acquisition of housing as resources permit. Administered by a paid Executive Vice President.
Pi Kapp Scholars	Twelve selected leaders who receive a scholarship from the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation each year for their exceptional academic and leadership success.
Pidgins	A girl (usually affiliated with a sorority) who stops by the Zeta Gamma chapter unannounced and hangs out for hours and hours.
Pinning	The practice of giving one's badge to a woman. Generally perceived as a pre-engagement act.
Pledge	What an associate member makes to Pi Kappa Phi. Used by many fraternities instead of the term "associate member."
Pre-Initiation Ceremony	The formal ceremony in which a new associate member makes his first commitment to the fraternity.
Professional Fraternity	A fraternity whose members are chosen on the basis of a particular course of study. Pi Kapps can join these organizations.
Prospective Member	A man considering associate membership in Pi Kappa Phi.
Push America	The national outreach project which provides service to the disabled, promotes volunteerism among collegiate members and provides educational programming to generate awareness for issues of disability.
Risk Management	A set of rules which minimize the opportunity for accidents and illegality which would nullify insurance coverage.
Ritual	The religious ceremony through which man must pass to be an initiated member of a fraternity.
Rose Ball	The national name for Pi Kappa Phi spring formals.
Rush	A program or period of time of intense membership recruitment.
Serenade	A song performed by fraternity members, usually to sorority members.
Shingle	A membership certificate received after initiation.
Star and Lamp	The national magazine of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Star Shield	The Supreme Chapter in the 1930's adopted the Star Shield symbol as the official "Recognition Pin" of the fraternity. Upon initiation, each member received (in addition to his membership badge) the Recognition Pin for the lapel of his coat. The appeal and purpose of the symbol was to tie back to our Ritual of Initiation and "evoke questions." Ideally, when a non-member would see the pin they would inquire about its meaning; thus giving an opportunity to the Pi Kappa Phi to talk about the Fraternity. The Recognition Pin lasted several years. However, the symbol was only half successful. Many members wore the pin and did provoke questions regarding its meaning. However they were unable to provide a universal substantive response. Over time, the symbol faded out and just like other fraternities and sororities the crest/coat of arms remained as the primary symbol of the Fraternity. It wasn't until the mid-1990's that the Star Shield was dusted off and brought back into the forefront of the fraternity. The symbol became the marketing logo for Pi Kappa Phi expansions to new campuses and has since had explosive success in offering us an immediate identity. Today it is the public symbol of our organization to recruits, administration, parents and the public.
Supreme Chapter	A fraternity convention of alumni and collegiate members held every other summer. The decisions of this body are of the highest authority in the fraternity.
Vice Archon	The collegiate officer second-in-charge and responsible for organizing the chapter's recruitment efforts.
Warden	The collegiate officer elected to supervise membership education and scholarship pursuits of a chapter.
White Diamond	An educational publication for associate members of Pi Kappa Phi. Also, the common name of the associate member badge.