Inclusive Language Update

Attending NGLA was one of the most beneficial experiences that I could have had this semester. Despite the conference having to be online, the staff and speakers were incredibly informative and helpful. I was also able to connect not only with sisters from other chapters of Kappa, but also fraternity and sorority members from all over. There were some attending from the South and even Canada! It was exciting to see how many people experience everything we do and how we all aren’t alone during this time. Each education block I attended was so educational and gave me so much insight to bring back to my chapter. I have not only learned ways to be a better leader, but how to incorporate new accountability measures to be educational and not punitive, how to be more diverse and inclusive in the org, how to support sisters encountering mental health crises or who have fallen victim to outside sources, and overall, how to lead the chapter and support each and every person who comes through alumnae and active. The experience was definitely overwhelming leading up to it, as we had to choose each educational subsection to attend. It was difficult choosing sometimes because each one seemed to hold so much information, but it had to be done. I also had the opportunity to meet one on one with a speaker and she aided me with new initiatives and ideas to bring back to my chapter. I am so excited to incorporate each and every idea I have into the chapter and I hope to be able to better support each active and Affiliate as well.

—Kirsten Ranieri, Kappa Alpha Gamma

To learn more about the Northeastern Greek Leadership Association, visit ngla.org.

Potential New Member Prior to the term affiliate the sorority used the term pledge. In the early 2000's the Board made the term switch to affiliate as at the time there was a real push to move away from pledge as it was holding a lot of negative stereotypes and often hazing was associated with the term. As the Sorority became more involved in organizations like AFA and NGLA I began to notice that at least in the realm of NPC sororities the term they used was potential new member or PNM. I encouraged the Board to consider switching to PNM as it would be in line with what is common terminology at campuses with NPC sororities which our chapters are often part of that council.

New Member Education This has a similar story to PNM in that the Board changed the term from pledge program and pledge mistress to affiliate education and affiliate educator to be in line with the terminology change of pledge to affiliate. Again new member education is the more commonly used term in today's fraternity and sorority community and I encouraged the change to be in alignment.

Emerging Chapter This is a more recent development and is not yet as universal a change in the Greek community as the above two. In recent years a focus on diversity, inclusion and equity has really increased especially in the Greek community which has a history of being predominantly white spaces. The term colony which was used previously carries with it the images of colonization. In the lens of historical context, when we 'colonize', the actions assumed are to have a western civilization interrupt a native culture, promote power and privilege, and become the dominant leader of the land.

By moving away from all of the previous terms we are working to use more inclusive language in our organization. —Liz Jason, National Advisor