Fraternities and sororities
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While the term fraternity can be used to describe any number of social organizations, including the Lions Club and the Shriners, fraternities and sororities are most commonly known as social organizations of higher education students in the United States and Canada but there are fraternities in the whole world (for example the German Student Corps). Fraternities are all-male or mixed-gender; the female-only equivalent is called a sorority. Fraternities and sororities are also referred to as student corporations or academic corporations or simply corporations.
With few exceptions (notably "Acacia", "FarmHouse" and "Triangle"), the names of fraternities and sororities are comprised of two or (usually) three Greek letters. For this reason, fraternities and sororities are known collectively as the Greek System, and its members are known as Greeks.
The Purposes and Types of Fraternities
There are various types of fraternities: social, professional, and honorary fraternities. The most recognizable (and cliched) form of fraternity is the college social fraternity, as lampooned by John Belushi in the film Animal House. Some fraternities today are alcohol-free (referred to as "dry"), and focus on community service, sound learning and leadership qualities in their membership, though some are purely "social". Apart from the use of Greek letters, the common theme running through all is the building of friendships and "brotherly" or "sisterly" bonds through shared experiences and efforts.
Structure and Organization
Ritual and Secrecy
Most fraternities maintain a ritual system that is highly symbolic in nature and kept a closely guarded secret. Some signs point to common ancestry in both sorority and fraternity ritual, but most are likely derived from Masonic order ritual. Other "fraternity secrets" may include passwords, songs, handshakes, journals and initiation rites.
Meetings of the active members are generally secret, and not to be discussed without the formal approval of the chapter as a whole.
The Fraternity House
Uniquely among most campus organizations, members of social fraternities and sororities often live together in a large house or apartment complex. This serves two purposes. First, it emphasizes the bonds the members share as "brothers" or "sisters". Second, the house serves as a central location for the events and administration of the fraternity. Because of the unique nature of this setup, the individual organizations themselves at their respective schools are known as "houses". Professional, academic or honorary societies rarely (if ever) maintain a permanent housing location.
A fraternity house can usually be identified by large Greek letters on the front of the house, advertising the name of the group. Depending on the size of the house, there may be anywhere from three to twenty bedrooms or more. The larger houses generally have a large meeting room and/or dining room, commercial kitchen and study room. There is usually a lounge of some sort, access to which is often restricted to fully initiated members. Fraternities will also often maintain a chapter room, to which only initiates may ever be admitted and even whose existence may be kept secret. The walls of the house may be decorated with pictures of past house events, awards and trophies, and decorative (or historic) paddles. A common stereotype with some underlying truth is that the public areas of sorority houses are generally cleaner than fraternity houses.
For reasons of cost, liability and stability, housing is usually overseen by an alumni corporation or its respective national fraternity organization. As a result, some houses prohibit members of the opposite sex from going "upstairs" or into the individual bedrooms. Other houses may impose a curfew or "open door" policy. Furthermore, some national organizations restrict or prohibit alcohol in the house at any time.
Joining a Fraternity or Sorority
During a period known as "Rush" or "Rush Week", fraternities and sororities invite fellow students to attend events at the house (or on-campus) and meet the current members of the organization. At the end of this period, the house invites the visitors of their choice to "pledge" the fraternity. If the invitation, or "bid", is accepted, the student will enter a period of pledgeship. A student may pledge only one fraternity at a time, and may never pledge another fraternity if they have already been initiated into another one.
Pledge requirements for each house vary, and some houses have eliminated pledgeship entirely. However, common requirements usually include wearing a "pledge pin", learning about the history and structure of the fraternity and the local chapter, performing a service of some kind, and maintaining a deferential attitude toward current members. Upon completion of the pledgeship and all its requirements, the active members will invite the pledges to be initiated and become active members.
The pledgeship serves as a probationary period in the fraternity membership process where both the fraternity and the pledge make sure that they have made the right choice. Almost always, after a pledge has been initiated they have an unrevokable membership in the organization for life. Those pledges who demonstrate their commitment to the organization and its members are invitiated, while those who demonstrate little-to-no effort and/or cause divisions and conflict are dismissed. Occasionaly, however, houses will invite anyone who completes the program to become active members, in order to maintain their numbers (and survival).
Hazing Issues
Historically, hazing as we know it now did not come into existence until after World War I. Soldiers returning from the war re-entered colleges, and brought with them the discipline and techniques learned in boot camp.
At its core, the original techniques commonly known as hazing today are techniques still used in the nation's military. By making the individual fail as an individual, and succeed as a team, the individual would learn to become a valuable asset to the team and be loyal to its success. This philosophy of team development continued to be used in fraternal organizations as each subsequent war refreshed the pool of ex-military students.
Eventually however, with fewer military students entering college/fraternities, these techniques were passed onto others who did not understand their purpose or usage, and hazing became a brutal and hazardous exercise as each new class tried to create new challenges for the sake of the challenges.
Many fraternities and sororities hazed their pledges, especially during certain initiation rites. In extreme cases, some pledges even died as a result. Though now created for decoration, the iconic "pledge paddle" is a tradition and reminder of this history.
During the 1960s-1980s, however, most organizations (especially those governed by alumni at the National level) implemented clear no-hazing policies. The National Interfraternity Conference also requires anti-hazing education for members, as do most universities. Since at least the 1990s, if hazing was conducted at a local chapter, it was without the knowledge or consent of the national organization and outside the guidelines for their initiation rituals. If discovered, it usually results in the revocation of the local chapter's charter.
Many chapters today still struggle with the legacy of hazing. It is seen as tradition, and many find that the best indicator of a pledge's worth to the group is their willingness to endure the challenges put forth to them. While hazing rarely exists in its most brutal forms, many chapters still incorporate behavior such as yelling or demanding menial tasks be performed that are deemed by their universities and national headquarters to be hazing.
History of the Greek System as a Whole
The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded on December 5, 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg VA. It is the oldest college fraternity and the first organization to have a Greek letter name. It was started as an outlet to let students discuss current issues, instead of school related topics like other groups on campus had been pressured into doing from faculty and staff. It has since evolved into a national honor society with chapters at 270 institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Lists of Fraternities and Sororities
Social Fraternities
- Acacia
- ΑΧΡ - Alpha Chi Rho
- ΑΔΦ - Alpha Delta Phi
- ΑΕΠ - Alpha Epsilon Pi - National Jewish Fraternity
- ΑΓΩ - Alpha Gamma Omega - National Christian Fraternity
- ΑΓΡ - Alpha Gamma Rho - Agricultural fraternity
- ΑΦΑ - Alpha Phi Alpha - Founded in 1906 at Cornell Univ. Historically African-American
- ΑΣΦ - Alpha Sigma Phi
- ΑΤΩ - Alpha Tau Omega
- ΒΘΠ - Beta Theta Pi
- ΧΦ - Chi Phi
- ΧΨ - Chi Psi
- ΔΧ - Delta Chi
- ΔΓ - Delta Gamma - Founded in 1873 at Lewis School for Girls in Oxford, MS
- ΔΚΕ - Delta Kappa Epsilon
- ΔΛΦ - Delta Lambda Phi - for gay, bisexual, and progressive gentlemen
- ΔΦ - Delta Phi
- ΔΟΣ - Delta Omicron Sigma - military veterans fraternity
- ΔΣΦ - Delta Sigma Phi
- ΔΤΔ - Delta Tau Delta
- ΔΥ - Delta Upsilon
- FarmHouse
- ΙΝΔ - Iota Nu Delta - The First South Asian Fraternity in the Nation (IND)
- Kappa Alpha Order - traditional southern fraternity
- Kappa Alpha Society
- ΚΑΨ - Kappa Alpha Psi aka Kappas
- ΚΔΡ - Kappa Delta Rho
- ΚΣ - Kappa Sigma
- ΛΧΑ - Lambda Chi Alpha - Founded in 1909 at Boston Universtiy
- ΛΦΕ - Lambda Phi Epsilon - First and Only National Asian-Interest Fraternity known as Lambdas
- ΛΘΠ - Lambda Theta Phi - Latino fraternity first recognized by the NIC
- ΩΨΦ - Omega Psi Phi - aka Que's
- ΦΒΣ - Phi Beta Sigma - Historically African-American Fraternity
- ΦΔΑ - Phi Delta Alpha - Dartmouth College
- ΦΔΘ - Phi Delta Theta
- ΦΓΔ - Phi Gamma Delta - known more commonly as Fiji
- ΦΙΑ - Phi Iota Alpha - the Oldest Latino Fraternity in existence
- ΦΚΨ - Phi Kappa Psi
- ΦΚΣ - Phi Kappa Sigma
- ΦΚΤ - Phi Kappa Tau
- ΦΚΘ - Phi Kappa Theta - Phi kaps or Phi Who's depending on demographics
- ΦΜΔ - Phi Mu Delta
- ΦΣΚ - Phi Sigma Kappa
- ΦΣΠ - Phi Sigma Pi
- ΠΑΠ - Pi Alpha Phi - the first Asian American Interest Fraternity established at the University of California, Berkeley.
- ΠΚΑ - Pi Kappa Alpha
- ΠΚΦ - Pi Kappa Phi
- ΠΛΦ - Pi Lambda Phi
- ΨΥ - Psi Upsilon - "Psi U"
- Saint Anthony Hall
- ΣΑΕ - Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- ΣΑΜ - Sigma Alpha Mu - aka Sammy
- ΣΒΡ - Sigma Beta Rho - The Largest Historically South Asian Multicultural Fraternity, aka SigRho
- ΣΧ - Sigma Chi
- ΣΛΒ - Sigma Lambda Beta
- ΣΝ - Sigma Nu
- ΣΦΔ - Sigma Phi Delta
- ΣΦΕ - Sigma Phi Epsilon
- ΣΠ - Sigma Pi
- ΣΤΓ - Sigma Tau Gamma
- ΤΕΦ - Tau Epsilon Phi
- ΤΚΕ - Tau Kappa Epsilon(TKE)
- ΘΧ - Theta Chi
- ΘΔΧ - Theta Delta Chi
- ΘΤ - Theta Tau
- Triangle - social fraternity of Engineers, Architects & Scientists
- ΖΨ - Zeta Psi - members are commonly known as Zetes
- ΖΒΤ - Zeta Beta Tau
Social Sororities and Female Fraternities
- ΑΧΩ - Alpha Chi Omega
- ΑΔΧ - Alpha Delta Chi - National Christian Sorority
- ΑΔΠ - Alpha Delta Pi
- ΑΓΔ - Alpha Gamma Delta
- ΑΕΦ - Alpha Epsilon Phi
- ΑΚΑ - Alpha Kappa Alpha
- ΑΟΠ - Alpha Omicron Pi
- ΑΩΕ - Alpha Omega Epsilon - Professional Engineering Sorority
- ΑΦ - Alpha Phi
- ΑΣΑ - Alpha Sigma Alpha
- ΔΔΔ - Delta Delta Delta
- ΔΓ - Delta Gamma
- ΔΖ - Delta Zeta
- ΔΦΕ - Delta Phi Epsilon
- ΔΣΘ - Delta Sigma Theta
- ΓΦΒ - Gamma Phi Beta
- ΚΑΘ - Kappa Alpha Theta
- ΚΔ - Kappa Delta [1]- known as KD Ladies
- ΚΚΓ - Kappa Kappa Gamma
- ΛΘΑ - Lambda Theta Alpha [2]
- ΩΦΧ - Omega Phi Chi [3] - Multicultural Sorority
- ΦΜ - Phi Mu
- ΦΣ - Phi Sigma Rho
- ΠΒ - Pi Beta Phi
- ΣΓΡ - Sigma Gamma Rho
- ΣΔΤ - Sigma Delta Tau
- ΣΚ - Sigma Kappa [4]
- ΣΨ - Sigma Psi
- ΤΒΣ - Tau Beta Sigma
- ΖΦΒ - Zeta Phi Beta
- ΖΤΑ - Zeta Tau Alpha
Service Fraternities
- ΑΦΩ - Alpha Phi Omega - coed service fraternity
Academic or Honorary Fraternities and Sororities
- Note: Most honorary fraternities are open to both sexes.
- ΑΧΣ - Alpha Chi Sigma - Chemistry
- ΑΨΩ - Alpha Psi Omega - Theatre
- ΑΛΔ - Alpha Lambda Delta
- ΒΓΣ - Beta Gamma Sigma - Business
- Iron Arrow Honor Society - Highest Honor at University of Miami
- ΚΚΨ - Kappa Kappa Psi - College Bandmembers (Coed Fraternity)
- ΟΔΕ - Omicron Delta Epsilon - Economics
- ΟΚΕ - Omicron Kappa Epsilon - Dental Surgery
- The Order of Omega - Greek honors society
- ΦΒΚ - Phi Beta Kappa Society - Originally a secret society, but public since 1831
- ΦΛΥ - Phi Lambda Upsilon - Chemistry
- ΦΣΠ - Phi Sigma Pi
- ΦΘΚ - Phi Theta Kappa - Community College
- ΡΧ - Rho Chi - Pharmacy
- ΣΓΤ - Sigma Gamma Tau - Aerospace Engineering
- ΣΠΣ - Sigma Pi Sigma - Physics
- ΣΞ - Sigma Xi - Honorary research society
- ΤΒΠ - Tau Beta Pi - Engineering
- ΤΒΣ - Tau Beta Sigma - College Bandmembers (Coed Sorority)
- ΥΠΕ - Upsilon Pi Epsilon - Computer Science/Computer Engineering
- ΧΕ - Chi Epsilon - Civil Engineering
Professional Fraternities and Sororities
- ΑΗΡ - Alpha Eta Rho - Aviation
- ΑΚΨ - Alpha Kappa Psi - Business
- ΑΧΣ - Alpha Chi Sigma - Chemistry
- ΔΣΠ - Delta Sigma Pi - Business
- ΧΕ - Chi Epsilon - Civil Engineering
- ΦΜΑ Sinfonia - Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Music Fraternity for men
- ΣΑΙ - Sigma Alpha Iota - Music Fraternity for women
Professional Fraternal Associations
- College Fraternity Editors Association
- Fraternity Executives Association
Fictional Fraternities and Sororities
Revenge of the Nerds
- Alpha Beta, Jock fraternity
- Lambda Lambda Lambda, a black fraternity that has nerd chapters
- Omega-Mu, sorority
- Pi-Delta-Pi, sorority
National Lampoon's Animal House
- Delta Tau Chi, fraternity
- Omega Theta Pi, fraternity
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
- Delta Iota Kappa, fraternity
PCU
- The Order of Balls and Shaft, (underground, outlawed) fraternity
Decoys (movie)
- Pi Beta Omega, sorority
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Alpha Beta Gamma, (African American) fraternity
Scream 2
- Omega Beta Zeta, sorority
Legally Blonde
- Delta Nu, Elle's sorority
- Lambda Kappa Pi, fraternity
Undergrads
- Alpha Alpha, fraternity
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
- Mu Pi, sorority
