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Terms to Know

Fraternities
vs.
Sororities

Fraternities are Greek living communities that stand for service and brotherhood and promote similar ideals to that of Sororities. Sororities are strictly female Greek communities that promote leadership, service, academics, and sisterhood. Hazing is prohibited for both Fraternities and Sororities at MIT.

Big/Little Sister

Sororities typically have pairs between older sisters and new members called Big and Little sisters. This relationship helps new members integrate into easily into their sisterhood and build relationships with older and more experienced members.

Chapter

A chapter can refer to your Greek affiliation (the Greek letters which you represent and uphold) or your sorority’s specific name at MIT within its national community.

Recruitment
vs.
Rush

Recruitment is the process in which MIT women who are interested in sororities can learn more about being a sister and be considered by sororities to become a sister. This process consists of five separate days where the girls learn about each chapter’s philanthropy, house, personality and sisterhood. Rush is the equivalent process for Fraternities but is informal.

Potential New Members
vs.
Sisters

Potential new members are just that. They are girls who go through recruitment (either informal or formal) and who wish to be considered by sororities. Sisters are the officially initiated members of a sorority.

Initiation

Once potential new members are initiated after receiving their bid, they are officially considered sisters of the sorority. Every sorority has various rituals [see Ritual below] that are performed at this event.

Panhel

Panhel is the institution that offers an organizational system for the sororities to govern themselves. Panhel also works on expanding the sororities to incorporate all girls attending MIT.

Ritual

Rituals are the secret traditions that each sorority performs to create their individuality and uniqueness from other sororities. Various sororities have different rituals, none of which incorporate hazing or bring any harm to any individual either within the sorority or outside.

Recruitment

The mutual-selection process in which potential new members can learn about all 6 sororities we have here at MIT and the sororities can meet and introduce themselves to potential new members.

Values Based Organizations

All sororities here are values based organizations. The sororities uphold particular values like academic excellence, loyalty, honesty, service to the community, etc. These are the values that the sororities expect their members to fulfill to the best of their abilities.

Fraternities vs. Sororities	Fraternities are Greek living communities that stand for service and brotherhood and promote similar ideals to that of Sororities. Sororities are strictly female Greek communities that promote leadership, service, academics, and sisterhood. Hazing is prohibited for both Fraternities and Sororities at MIT.
Big/Little Sister	Sororities typically have pairs between older sisters and new members called Big and Little sisters. This relationship helps new members integrate into easily into their sisterhood and build relationships with older and more experienced members.
Chapter	A chapter can refer to your Greek affiliation (the Greek letters which you represent and uphold) or your sorority’s specific name at MIT within its national community.
Recruitment vs. Rush	Recruitment is the process in which MIT women who are interested in sororities can learn more about being a sister and be considered by sororities to become a sister. This process consists of five separate days where the girls learn about each chapter’s philanthropy, house, personality and sisterhood. Rush is the equivalent process for Fraternities but is informal.
Potential New Members vs. Sisters	Potential new members are just that. They are girls who go through recruitment (either informal or formal) and who wish to be considered by sororities. Sisters are the officially initiated members of a sorority.
Initiation	Once potential new members are initiated after receiving their bid, they are officially considered sisters of the sorority. Every sorority has various rituals [see Ritual below] that are performed at this event.
Panhel	Panhel is the institution that offers an organizational system for the sororities to govern themselves. Panhel also works on expanding the sororities to incorporate all girls attending MIT.
Ritual	Rituals are the secret traditions that each sorority performs to create their individuality and uniqueness from other sororities. Various sororities have different rituals, none of which incorporate hazing or bring any harm to any individual either within the sorority or outside.
Recruitment	The mutual-selection process in which potential new members can learn about all 6 sororities we have here at MIT and the sororities can meet and introduce themselves to potential new members.
Values Based Organizations	All sororities here are values based organizations. The sororities uphold particular values like academic excellence, loyalty, honesty, service to the community, etc. These are the values that the sororities expect their members to fulfill to the best of their abilities.

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