Even though the University has the largest Greek community in the nation, the majority of the student population is not part of the Greek system. Therefore, the non-Greeks are sometimes lost on the lingo that the “frat bros” and sorority girls often throw around on campus. But, there’s a solution: Here are a few key terms in the Greek life dictionary.

*Atius:* Every Moms Weekend fraternities and sororities pair up to put on a show for their mothers. After weeks of preparation, the pairs hit the stage and perform their song, dance and skit. This friendly competition not only is a fun event for the moms to watch, but it also promotes camaraderie in the Greek community.

*Barn Dance:* Barn dance is simply what its name suggests: a dance in a barn. Almost every fraternity and sorority holds a barn dance each fall, and some also have them in the spring. Each member brings a date and a school bus transports everyone to the barn. It seems very junior high, but that’s why students say it’s a great time.

“I love barn dance because it is different from the normal bar exchanges, and we are able to go off campus to a real barn,” said Celeste Guzman, sophomore in LAS. “The hay rides and bonfire are also things you wouldn’t normally see at campus bars.”

*House Mom:* Sororities have live-in house moms that look after them and keep the house in order, while fraternities usually have house managers who aren’t always around. House moms set the ground rules, which can sometimes be strict but are meant to keep members safe.

“I like it because it’s like having a substitute mom,” said Julie Knecht, junior in LAS. “She’s someone I can come to (and) talk about any problems that I have.”

*Greek Reunion:* A weekend in July each year is dedicated to Greek Reunion, which is the highlight of the summer for many. Fraternities hold day parties, or “darties” as they are sometimes referred to, and the bars have nightly specials. It’s an excuse for everyone to get together and have fun.

“It is my favorite because I am able to catch up with friends that I wouldn’t see on a regular basis like I would at school,” Guzman said.

*Exchange:* Exchanges are king when it comes to social calendars. Sororities and fraternities pair up, decide on a theme and go to a bar. People get very intense when it comes to dressing up, and their costumes are usually better than what’s seen on Halloween.

“You hang out at a bar or at a house and get to know new people as well as have a good time partying,” said Matt LoLordo, sophomore in DGS.

For some houses, exchanges only happen about three to four times a semester, making pairing extremely important because everyone wants to get paired with their favorite houses.

*Pledge Family:* Each new greek member gets paired up with another member from the class above them. This is their pledge mom or dad. The rest of one’s pledge family is determined by the pledge parents. For example, if a Tri Delta’s dad is a Sigma Chi, her grandpa and great-grandpa are also Sigma Chis. It can get kind of tricky trying to sort out who belongs in which family, especially if someone has multiple pledge spouses. The “families” help new members feel a part of something important and create important bonds.

“Not only do you get to know a specific person really closely in the pledge class below you and above you in your own house, but you also get to meet so many people through a web,” Knecht said.

*Block:* In the minds of Greek affiliated students, block season is the best season. Block happens before all of the home Illinois football games and is the one time in life when going to a bar at 8 a.m. is completely acceptable. Sororities and fraternities pair up each year and then pick a bar to go to before each game.

“You enjoy yourself getting closer to another house, and you get in the right state of mind for a football game,” LoLordo said.

Maybe these words will not weave their way into your daily dialogue, but for those skeptical non-Greeks, at least some of the mystery of Greek life has been solved.