Canada Question
 

I know this will only get a few responses (cause there aren't many of us Canadians hanging around this site, unfortuantely), but I became a memeber of Gamma Phi at the University of Toronto back in 1996 and while I've been inactive for a year, I'm finding myself, by reading other posts on this site, like I'm from a completely different world. If any other Canadians are out there, can you just tell me if I'm living in a hole, or if there are a lot of things that are just done differently or that we have different words for.
For example, I've figured out by reading plenty of posts, that a line is your pledge class. We just call it pledge class and I had never heard the term line before reading posts on GC. We (at least in my chapter) don't even know our line number. I don't think we ever knew it was important to know. Also the term sands, is that universal in states for pledge mates? We, again, just call them members of our pledge class, sometimes, pledge sisters.
GLO. We're members of National (i guess international) panhallenic up here. This is a place where I'm still confused. What are all the different letters that keep appearing refering to different orgs in the States. Forgive me if I sound incredibly ignorant, but I was very active for 4 years and yet I still feel like a neo reading all these posts. I just think that there are terms that didn't matriculate up here when our houses were founded. We've been on U of T's campus (Gamma Phi has) since 1919, so it's not like we're a new chapter up here.
I'm just curious to know if any other Canadians have felt the same things as I have, or if it's just unique to my silly campus.
I went on RLC in Cleavland a couple of years ago and partied with a bunch of the girls from our chapter at Michigan state and got alone really well with them. I didn't feel like I was from some alien planet also called Gamma Phi. So getting past this little lingo hurdle is more out of confusion than out of an effort to fit in. If that makes sense.
Is a term like 'sands' used by all houses, or is it just some? I get the feeling 'line' is pretty much used by everyone....I feel so ignorant asking these questions, but I feel like it's better to ask these questions and get answers than live in my ignorance http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/redface.gif
Thanks,

Leslie

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Gamma Phi Beta
University of Toronto
Alpha Alpha

[This message has been edited by gphi2k (edited February 19, 2001).]

I am not sure of some of the terms you used here either. I did not know what GLO/BGLO was for a while, DA me.
Lambda Chi Alphs also has terms used by some of the chapters that I was not familiar with. But each chapter in different parts of the country have different slang words but the one common thread in each chapter is the Zeta #. THat is given when the Associate Member is initiated as the order from the time of initiation. Zeta means chapter in LXA. Of all of the Alums from my Zeta that I have found only 3 did not remember their #. But one must think that this has been 35 years to some of the original Brothers from the local I started in 1965! Mine is simple to remember # 1. If you have been gone for a while, your mind dims but when you get back around you Brothers or Sisters, it is amazing how quick you pick it back up as if only yesterday!!!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

Leslie,
I think words like "line" and "sands" pertain mainly to the 9 groups of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. (often referred to as the "Divine Nine")
They have an informative website at: http://www.nphc.org/

Women:
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Delta Sigma Theta
Zeta Phi Beta
Sigma Gamma Rho

Men:
Alpha Phi Alpha
Omega Psi Phi
Phi Beta Sigma
Kappa Alpha Psi
Iota Phi Theta

I am quite certain that there are no Canadian chapters belonging to the above, so that's probably why you were unfamiliar with the terminology at first. No matter, that is what is great about the board...so that we can learn lots. I have learned lots from NPHC ladies on this board and I'm grateful for it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Leslie,

I totally agree with you...and it is even worse for us as we are a local!! I am trying to learn though...maybe we can adapt some of the things from those sororities that have been around for years and years!! As in a lot of things, Canadian Greek Life culture seems to be different from the States!

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Sarah Lyon
Sister Lots-a-Heart, #9
President, Iota Beta Chi Sorority
http://welcome.to/iotabetachi

I must say that I too have been 'educated' through this board about the 'Divine 9' (& also through some awesome Kappa acquaintances).

I've been fortunate enough to visit many AGD chapters over the past four years, both in Canada & the US. For the most part, my sisters & I have been welcomed with open arms & houses (most recently in Seattle this past weekend!). I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to gain this international perspective.

I have to agree with the statement that it really does feel like Canada & our 'little' greek systems, is a whole different world - relative to those of our neighbours to the south. I also think that this different 'feeling' is not just limited to greek life, but to university / college life as a whole.

I for one, wish that I had had the opportunity to attend a US college & to experience university American-style. Since it's out of the question for my undergrad, grad school down there is still an option ...

My advice to greeks everywhere is to take advantage of any opportunity that y0u can to both travel &/or interact (if only online) with other members of the greek commununity (regardless of letter) -- it can truly be an eye-opening experience.

That's my $.02 plus.

Greek love.

Delta Zeta '97
Alpha Gamma Delta
University of British Columbia

So this thread explains it all....... Should have figured as much!

hey gphi-
if it makes you feel better. im a phi sig from radford university in virginia and i dont even know half of these terms. dont feel left out.
lauren

Keep 'em coming, your posts are getting stupider each day.

Leslie, "sands" & "line" are BGLO (and sometimes MCGLO) terms. I never heard them before this board either (BGLO's weren't very prominent on my campus) and I've been Greek a LONG time. Don't worry, it's not a Canada thing! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Leslie,

You're not alone, I didn't know half these terms. It's cool learning about all the different Greek orgs out there. On our campus we basically have IFC/NPC orgs and a few professional GLO's. Now I'm a total expert on Greek terminology http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif

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Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Gamma Chapter
University of British Columbia
Sigma 1996

Hey Leslie,

So you're an alum from AA Chapter, I'm a second year Gamma Phi there right now. Would I have seen you at any recent GPB events? It sounds like you aren't as connected to the House anymore

Don't worry Leslie,

I feel the same way sometimes. Our greek system is small (University of Guelph), and I mean rally small, there is just us (Pi Beta Phi) and Delta Upsilon, so things are done differently to those that are in the US and even differently then how they are done at UofT.
For a while I didn't know what PNM stodd for until I asked. We still call them pledges.
It might be a Canadian thing, it might not. But don't worry, you're not alone.

Up until last year we still called the girls pledges here at U of T, however NPC has made a change and it is no longer RUSH, it's recruitment and no longer pledges but potential new members, and then new members.

Sometimes we still get a little tongue-tied with the old lingo, but we're improving

You're dumb