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Definition of terms

Advisor Alumni and college volunteers who bring experience and guidance to collegiate members
Alum An organization member who is no longer in college
Bid A formal invitation of inter/national membership in a fraternity
Chapter The individual campus units that are part of an inter/national fraternity organization
Court Selection Uniquely Davidson method of joining a fraternity or eating-house, by which students select the organization in which they wish to become social members (For inter/national affiliation see Recruitment)
First Night Down The first night freshmen are allowed to attend Patterson Court organizations' functions (both on or off-campus); also marks the start of recruitment process for fraternities

 
Eligibility Before joining a Patterson Court fraternity or eating-house, a student must have completed at least one semester at Davidson and achieved at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA 
Family Weekend The weekend selected during the fall semester for students to invite their families to visit the college and enjoy a Wildcat football game
Fraternity A social /service /academic /professional organization of men
House Where the organization meets and functions
Initiation The formal ritual ceremony in which a new fraternity member takes final vows for full membership
New Member A student who has "court selected" a fraternity or eating-house
Patterson Court Council The student governing board of all social fraternities and eating-houses
PCC Sticker Allows holder to attend a semester's worth of Patterson Court functions after First Night Down during fall semester and Court Selection Night during the spring semester (although access to certain events - such as formals - may be by invitation only); may be purchased at the Residence Life Office for all non-Patterson Court members
Philanthropy/Community Service Charitable project sponsored by an organization (Each Patterson Court organization works with a philanthropic organization.)
Recruitment Mutual selection process by which prospective new (inter/national) fraternity members and chapter members get to know each other
Ritual Traditional beliefs and practices of a fraternity
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