They really seemed to do their research here...

"What's a Sorority

Are you wondering what the eck a sorority is? It’s more than just matching outfits and chanting. Oh yes...

A sorority is an all-female, secret social organization for university students and they are a big deal at universities in the US. The idea is that being in a sorority "fosters growth and personal development within its members in two ways: publically through philanthropic works, social events and academic excellence, and privately through the use of ritualistic ceremonies, symbolism and closed member meetings." Oh, and they have lots of parties. ACE

Anyone can apply to join a Sorority, but only the very smart/brave/talented get in. Potential new members are scrutinized by existing sorority 'sisters' and put through a series of challenges to prove they are up for it.


Once they're in and initiated, sorority members enjoy special privileges: they get to go to really neat and exclusive parties, hang out with cool alumna sorority girls, cheaper housing and access to a nice pot of cash"

:rolleyes:

iLaughed. Hats off to all of you brave, brave sorority women.

Double post - sorry - but I had to share. Some gems..."Icing" (yes, as in the practice of the Smirnoff Ice challenge), "Rush Slut," and "Woof." :o

"It's All Greek to Me...

S-I-G-M-A G-A-M-M-A. Do you know your pledge from your rush? Fear not young fellows, swot up on your sorority terms here. LYLAS!

Sorority terms
Pledge: A member who has received a provisional invitation to join the Sorority, but who has not yet been initiated into the Sorority as a Sister. In Sorority Girls, the 14 British girls who move into the Sigma Gamma house are Pledges.

Greek: A term signifying membership to a Greek Society. Fraternity - meaning Brotherhood for boys, or Sorority - meaning Sisterhood for girls.

Chapter: The branch of the Sorority at a specific university. Sigma Gamma Leeds is the first Chapter of Sigma Gamma UK.

Philanthropy: Charitable works.

Rush: The first stage of recruitment to the Sorority to which anyone can attend.


Pref Night: The second and final stage in the Rush process in which the 'preferred candidates' are invited to a formal evening event.

PNM: 'Potential New Member' or a 'Rushee' is the term used by Sisters to describe girls who have applied to be in the Sorority, but have not yet been given a formal Bid.


Bid: A formal invitation to become a 'Pledge member' of the Sorority. Bids are usually represented by a Sorority symbol and consist of an item of clothing or jewellery that differentiates the member from an active. A Sigma Gamma Bid consists of the pink Pledge Pearls.

Pledging: The process in which girls attempt to be initiated into the Sorority.


Presents: (pron: Pree-zents) An official ceremony in which a Pledge class is formally presented as Sorority members to their friends and families.

Social Probation: a probationary period in which a member must perform challenges or is excluded from events, usually as a result from bad behaviour or failing to complete challenges or trials.


Pledge Cut: A weekly meeting in which Pledge's performance is evaluated. During this meeting Pledges can be stripped of their Bids and 'cut' from the Sorority.

Initiation: The formal ritualistic ceremony in which Pledges become active members of the Sorority. In Sorority Girls this takes place at the very end of the series.

Sorority Slang:
Rush Crush: A PNM who is a desirable candidate for the Sorority. Specifically a Sister's 'crush' who they simply have to have in their house.

Rush Slut: A PNM who is not a desirable candidate for the Sorority. Specifically someone who a Sister does not want in the house.

Frat: Fraternity; a brother organization to a Sorority consisting of male university students.

Raid: An event with a Fraternity in which Fraternity members attack the Sorority House and select a girl to be their date on an evening out.

Fraternity Sweetheart: A sorority member selected by a Fraternity that represents their ideals of the perfect Sorority woman.

Icing: The act of presenting a Sorority or Fraternity member with an alcopop. Greek tradition dictates they must get on their knees and chug said alcopop.

Shack: The act of 'sleeping over' at a boy's house after a night out.

SNSG: "So Not Sigma Gamma" An expression of disapproval.

Sorry ‘Bout It: "I'm really NOT sorry about it".

PLCs: "Poor Life Choices" When a Sorority member or Pledge makes a bad decision, usually involving behaviour.

Woof: Ugly, referring to face or outfit. E.g. "That skirt is really woof'.

Sorostitute: A derogatory term for a Sister or Pledge who dresses or behaves in an inappropriately sexual fashion.

Slooter Cahooter: A teasing term for a Sister or Pledge who has dressed or behaved in an inappropriately sexual fashion, but does not usually do so.

Wawaweewa: An informal expression of pleasure, specifically when a Sorority Sister looks sexy.


LYLAS!: "Love You Like a Sister!" An expression of endearment amongst Sorority members.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

LOL at all of this.

Where is my pot of cash?

I was wondering the same thing...:rolleyes:

What's sad is that this show can actually get on the air because some people BELIEVE that this is the way Greeks are.

Makes me wonder why more GLOs have not tried to colonize chapters in the UK. I know we have alumnae associations in the UK. Also a few exchange students from the UK have joined our chapter.

I am unaware of any NPC sororities that have chapters there. I think there is a NPHC chapter but don't remember which one.

We have chapters in Canada why not the UK?

My big fat pot of cash was handed to me straight after initi...... oooh damn, is that secret?!?! LOL


Too True Mevara, I think, if done correctly (i.e not for reality tv) Sororities would do really well over here, student life over here isn't all that different to back home...

From the Canadian perspective, I can tell you that we take a lot of flak for belonging to "American" organizations. (sorry). Also, from the nitty gritty point of view, it can be a hassle to pay your fees and have to convert them into US Funds / get a US Money Order etc. Yes, it's easier now that things like Pay Pal exist but we do take a hit when paying from Canadian funds into US Funds. I'm sure that there's other reasons too, but the "being too American" is one reason that some anti-GLO types love to crow about.

Also, collegiate chapters need the benefit of locally based alumnae support, which you would challenged to find in Europe.


PS I, too, would like my big pot of cash, or better yet, have access to the unlimited funds, resources and a lovely Ferrari like Paul Walker did, in "The Skulls".... (eye roll)

ok, so 17 minutes in and all i can say is.....



Stereotype Much?

I don't know about the other GLOs but I do know Kappa already has alumnae associations in the UK.

It is also a chicken and the egg situation, you won't have many alumnae associations if you don't have collegiate chapters. Although you need alumnae support to help a collegiate chapter grow.

I would also imagine that the costs could get out of hand.

On top of alumnae support in the form of members in alumnae associations, you also need National Staff members to be able to travel to those chapters.. For my GLO, we had at least one visit by an Educational Consultant and one by our District President each year. That gets expensive when you have to send people overseas. And it also makes for some major jet lag.

Also, for those collegiate chapters to send members to convention and other regional and national conferences would cost a pretty penny. And this, along with everything else I've mentioned, would require passports for all involved.

It would be much easier nowadays with conveniences such as the internet, but there are many obstacles to overcome as well.

From the perspective of someone who graduated from a British university...*And a disclaimer that I'm speaking in generalities*

It comes down to that old factor of "Campus Culture". British universities are much more...focused(?). Generally I'd say that students are more interested in the academic environment than the collegial/community environment (see also why many students choose not to stay in halls of residence past their first year or first term in some cases). American universities have this history and culture of a campus community, whereas in British universities this is generally a function left to the student unions, and to a lesser degree student clubs (rowing, chess, future vets, etc).

Further, the culture of alcohol is very different and I can imagine that the students at my university would have told Risk Management to go fly a kite. Alcohol is freely available through the university unions, through pubs, through the offy, through the grocery stores, and students, just like american students, drink...a lot. To have spaces where alcohol wouldn't be allowed would be very strange.

Not sure if you will be able to watch it over in the states, but just in case you can and you want to, here is the 4OD link.....

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sorority-girls/4od