DeKALB | Going Greek requires, among other things, learning a whole new language.

The culture of fraternities and sororities have developed their own “Greek speak,” learning it is a necessity for any pledge.

Welcome to Greek 101.

Known as the “rush,” the recruitment period is the time when Greek organizations extend invitations to prospective recruits to join their fraternity or sorority. The recruitment period acts as an opportunity for interested students to visit each house and to decide where they would feel most at home.

“It’s a chance for people who are new to NIU and interested in joining to spend a weekend going through each of the houses, talking to people and seeing which house they fit into,” said Pamela Stanula, a senior English major, who currently serves as the president of Delta Gamma sorority.

The invitation to join a fraternity or sorority is known as a “bid.” When students finally commit to one particular organization, they obtain the status of “pledge.”

The new members, or “pledges,” participate in an educational process for about six to eight weeks. They learn about the history and symbols of their new organization, join focus groups, learn about the various positions within the club and what can be done to move up in rank within the organization.

A group of members who are chosen to become initiated or inducted together into a particular organization are known as a “line.” When the line reaches the point where the new members are officially inducted into the organization, this is called “crossing over.” When other members have crossed over upon the same line, they are known as “sands.”

The usage of different Greek terms, such as “rush” and “pledge,” are frowned upon by NIU and Greek officials, in preference of “recruitment” and “new member.” The reasoning behind this can be largely traced to Greek organizations wishing to move away from the stigma created by hazing.

One way Greek clubs are able to give back to the communities in which they are based is by participating in their own philanthropy, which is the charitable endeavor endorsed by the organization.

“Each organization has a different community service or fund raiser, one particular cause that they are helping,” said senior mechanical engineering major Yamil Guerra of the Tau Phi Sigma fraternity, whose fraternity will host a talent show to raise money. Funds will go to the American Diabetes Association.

There is no real guarantee of membership for students wishing to join the fraternity or sorority of their choice. Every applicant, however, almost always gains membership into at least their second choice, Stanula said.

Justin Weaver is a Campus Reporter for the Northern Star.