Fraternities, Sororities, and Diversity

Fraternity and sorority stem from the Latin words frater and soror, meaning “brother” and “sister,” respectively. Although the terms may be used to describe an array of social and charitable organizations such as the Lions Club, Rotary International, or the Shriners, the terms are most commonly employed in reference to selective groups on U.S. college and university campuses. U.S.-based fraternities and sororities are generally known by a two or three Greek-lettered name. For this reason, [Page 928]fraternities and sororities are known collectively as the Greek system, and members are often referred to as Greeks. There are various fraternities and sororities: general (sometimes called social), service, professional, and honorary. The most recognizable form is the college general or social Greek organization. Such organizations have long been ...