Latino Greek Letter Organizations

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally posted by deuika
*Applauds*

Latino Greeks...

I was wondering...can a Latino Greek Organization be also MultiCultural?
I don't know if I'm saying that right. But I have some friends who are XYZ's, it's multicultural nationally, but all the members I have met are Latina, they do a lot of Latin activities as well, like most of their community service is done with Latin interest in mind, geesh I think I'm saying that wrong.
Anywhoodolini, Can they be in two councils? I know a couple of Greek orgs are.

Hi Deuika!

There are some organizations who state that they are multicultural but nearly the entire membership is Latina/o. Not being a member of a MCGLO but rather LGLO, I'm not really sure why that is, but I've often pondered this question, myself. Personally, I don't think a MCGLO should also claim to be an LGLO (although I know of some whose members do on an individual basis when it suits them) or vice-versa. They are two totally different things. Regarding councils, if you are MCGLO you cannot be part of NALFO, but on some campuses they lump all non IFC-NPC or NPHC orgs. into the "Multicultural Greek Council."

[SIAsensacion]

Originally posted by laidbackfella
Just wanted to know how your organization is received by other organizations at your school. I attend a Historically Black University and we don't have any other Greek Letter Organizations other than the Divine Nine here.

I just wanted to know about your experience with it since you've crossed.

I am a member of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc., a Latina-based sorority founded in 1990 in NY. I crossed at our Chi chapter, University of Maryland, College Park in Spring 99. I am currenty an active member of our Gamma Alpha chapter, the DC area graduate/professional chapter.

To answer your question, Laidbackfella, I have had a great experience since I crossed. When I crossed, we had the following Greeks on campus:

LGLOs:
Lambda Theta Alpha (Sorority)
Lambda Upsilon Lambda (Fraternity)

BGLOs:
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Kappa Alpha Psi
Delta Sigma Theta
Phi Beta Sigma
Zeta Phi Beta
Sigma Gamma Rho
Iota Phi Theta

My chapter was founded at UMCP in Spring of 1997, and overall we have been received quite well by other Greeks on campus from the beginning. We have held events and programs with the other LGLOs on campus (of course), and we have also held events with almost all the BGLOs as well, including community services, programs, parties, step/stroll shows, etc.
Other than programming, a lot of my chapter sisters (including myself) were friends with a lot of people in the BGLOs (both before and after we/they crossed), so it was pretty easy to have good relationships.

Overall, I think a lot of members of BGLOs are very accepting, welcoming, and friendly to LGLOs (in my experience). I think there is an element of friendly competition (or not so friendly if you are dealing with the wrong people) at times between LGLOs (which is natural), just like there is between BGLOs. However, the element of competition is not really there between a BGLO and an LGLO, I guess because we appeal to different people and reach out to different audiences. So I think the lack of "friendly competition" makes it easy to have really good relationships with each other.

I hope this helps, and if you have more questions please feel free to ask.

[preciousjeni]

Revisiting this thread after a while...

There seem to be a number of definitions of multicultural.

1) Organizations devoted primarily to one culture do have members of and welcome the inclusion of different cultures and sub-cultures (i.e. a Latina sorority with members from various Latin cultures as well as non-Latina women). So, these orgs are still Latina/Black/Asian, etc but they make a point to be inclusive and supportive of all.

-Example: Sigma Lambda Gamma

*Specific culture; multicultural membership

2) Organizations that began either as a group devoted to one culture or as a group that did not specify any specific culture (but were not specifically bringing attention to cultural issues.) Perhaps a more recent push to diversify has been incorporated and members are excited to bring in members with different backgrounds and experiences.

-Example: most NPC sororities

*Not originally intended to be specifically multicultural; current diverse membership

3) Organizations founded on multiculturalism. Specific chapters are often representative of cultures in the particular region. Programs are designed to bring education and sensitivity to the understanding of any number of cultures.

-Example: Theta Nu Xi, Zeta Sigma Chi

*Originally and intended to be multicultural


Thoughts? Are there more categories? How would an organization like Mu Sigma Upsilon** be best defined?

**MSU is the "first multicultural sorority in the nation" but they are bound to a Latino fraternity.

And, think about an organization like Phi Beta Sigma that is very diverse. PBS is certainly still considered a BGLO.

This all is why I really think we should be careful to say "historically" or "predominantly."

[rocketgirl]

preciousjeni,

I agree that people seem to have varying definitions of what a "multicultural" sorority is and is supposed to be. In my experience, I've seen organizations define themselves as multicultural when they fall under your definition (which I agree with) of a cultural organization with multicultural membership. Personally, I don't care what people define themselves as, as long as they are up front with pnms about who they are. I have met more than one person who thought a organization was multicultural in the way your sorority and mine define it, but they actually were culturally based with a multicultural membership.

Sororities like MSU are confusing because they are bound to a Latino frat and they use a lot of spanish language references. I don't understand how an organization where the name is written in Greek and Spanish and line names, nicknames, ect are all in Spanish, can be classified as multicultural, because to me, it doesn't seem to invite everyone, just people who speak Spanish. I think that the idea of culturally based, multicultural membership would apply to that organization..or maybe they are historically multicultural??

[preciousjeni]

I've done A LOT (and I mean A LOT) of research on multicultural sororities. I've tracked down people and info and talked directly to various national officers. Of the 40+ multicultural sororities, there are very few nationals.

I consider local to be one chapter, regional to be more than one chapter in an area, a state or a region, and national to be more than one chapter in more than one region.

Based on these definitions, here they are in order of founding:

Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: November 21, 1981
*Appears to be predominantly Latina

Lambda Tau Omega Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: 1988
*Appears to be predominantly Latina

Eta Omega Tau Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: April 24, 1990
*Predominantly Latina - confirmed

Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: March 3, 1991
*Multicultural - confirmed by rocketgirl

Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: April 20th, 1994
*Appears to be multicultural

Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: March 9, 1997
*This organization is rather cryptic, but the founders appear to be predominantly Latina.

Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: April 11, 1997
*Multicultural - confirmed

Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority
Founding Date: October 7, 1997
*Appears to be multicultural

Delta Gamma Pi Multicultural Sorority
Founding Date: November 11, 1998
*Appears to be multicultural

Zeta Chi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: January 30, 2003
*Appears to be multicultural

Omicron Lambda Pi
Founding Date: April 13, 2003
*This organization is rather cryptic, but the organization has very early ties to a BGLO.

From all appearances, it would seem that of the national multicultural sororities, those that have very apparent MC foundations are (eldest to youngest):

1) Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (1991)
2) Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (1994)
3) Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (1997)
4) Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority (1997)
5) Delta Gamma Pi Multicultural Sorority (1998)
6) Zeta Chi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (2003)

What do you think, rocketgirl?

[Ilaria Ame]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc.
Founding Date: March 9, 1997
*This organization is rather cryptic, but the founders appear to be predominantly Latina.

our founders were predominately latina in ethnicity, but we were founded on multicultural beliefs. we concentrate on cultural awareness and no part of our traditions or ceremonies make any reference to particular cultures. we incorporate aspects of everyone's cultures and embrace a multicultural membership.

[flirt5721]

I'm not in a Latina sorority but I do know that Kappa Delta Chi is a Latina sorority that we have on campus. They are really nice girls and we have had a couple of socials with them.

[NuSigmaBeta]

I am a member of a Puertorican fraternity called Nu Sigma Beta NSB. We were founded in 1937 at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. Since then our Fraternity has expanded to include a chapter in almost every University in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and some US Universities. If you are interested in more information about our fraternity our site is www.nusigmabeta.org also if you would like some information about starting a Nu Sigma Beta chapter in your University you can email me at sotomizer@gmail.com. The Nu Sigma Beta fraternity is not a latino or Puertorican only type of fraternity it is open to all races and ethnic origins.

[TopSider]

Ahhhh, this was too good to pass up. But I wont start, homes. HAHAHAHAHAHA. What a joke

[lizzy4]

Originally Posted by flirt5721

I'm not in a Latina sorority but I do know that Kappa Delta Chi is a Latina sorority that we have on campus. They are really nice girls and we have had a couple of socials with them.

I am a sister of Kappa Delta Chi....we are Latina founded but we are a multicultural sorority...in my chapter, even though it's small, we have asian, white and of course latina sisters I've been a sister for over 4 yrs and ive seen many girls from all colors rush...and if you see our national board you'll see how multicultural we are

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by lizzy4

I am a sister of Kappa Delta Chi....we are Latina founded but we are a multicultural sorority...in my chapter, even though it's small, we have asian, white and of course latina sisters I've been a sister for over 4 yrs and ive seen many girls from all colors rush...and if you see our national board you'll see how multicultural we are

Mission Statement: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is a Latina founded,
501(c)(7), national sorority who aims to achieve professional development, academic excellence, and graduation of all its members; an organization dedicated to community service to their local university communities with an emphasis on the Hispanic/Latino population.

http://www.kappadeltachi.org/index.p...i/Purpose.html

And you're a member of NALFO.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by lizzy4

I am a sister of Kappa Delta Chi....we are Latina founded but we are a multicultural sorority...in my chapter, even though it's small, we have asian, white and of course latina sisters I've been a sister for over 4 yrs and ive seen many girls from all colors rush...and if you see our national board you'll see how multicultural we are

So, what you're saying is that you're a diverse sorority, not multicultural. There's a difference.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Mission Statement: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is a Latina founded,
501(c)(7), national sorority who aims to achieve professional development, academic excellence, and graduation of all its members; an organization dedicated to community service to their local university communities with an emphasis on the Hispanic/Latino population.

http://www.kappadeltachi.org/index.p...i/Purpose.html

And you're a member of NALFO.

[rocketgirl]

Based upon what I've seen those seem to be it. I don't know what you are using to confirm, but I definately can confirm that we are a multicultural org, with a multicultural focus and multicultural membership....check the website...www.zetasigmachi.com:)

I do wonder why almost every one on the list is not really multicultural is actually Latina...interesting...

I think it's interesting how many local/regional multicultural sororities there are. If you do a websearch on locals there seem to be over 50. I know I've always wondered why it seems that people are starting brand new sororities instead of joining one of the many established organizations. I understand that everyone wants a different focus, but from what I can tell, the 5 you have listed as national all seem to have a slightly different spin on things.

That leads to my next question...what do you think the future is for multicultural sororities. Obviously we all are expanding every year to new schools, but do you think that there will ever be a strong multicultural council with bonds like NPHC or NPC? I think it would be great, but, it doesn't seem like anything in the immediate future. I think that would help with a national understanding for who we are and what we stand for, instead of the confusion, especially with groups that seem to not fall under the definition of a multicultural sorority.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by rocketgirl
Based upon what I've seen those seem to be it. I don't know what you are using to confirm, but I definately can confirm that we are a multicultural org, with a multicultural focus and multicultural membership....check the website...www.zetasigmachi.com:)

I know ALL about y'all! Much love to ya! The only two orgs I, personally, can confirm are HWT and QNX. Now that you have solidly confirmed your org, I'll note that in the other post.

I think it's interesting how many local/regional multicultural sororities there are. If you do a websearch on locals there seem to be over 50. I know I've always wondered why it seems that people are starting brand new sororities instead of joining one of the many established organizations. I understand that everyone wants a different focus, but from what I can tell, the 5 you have listed as national all seem to have a slightly different spin on things.

Indeed. I love to see new organizations flourish, but I'm afraid that many new multicultural orgs are fizzling out as soon as they start. The founders get fired up but they don't seem to be able to bring new blood in at a good rate.

That leads to my next question...what do you think the future is for multicultural sororities. Obviously we all are expanding every year to new schools, but do you think that there will ever be a strong multicultural council with bonds like NPHC or NPC? I think it would be great, but, it doesn't seem like anything in the immediate future. I think that would help with a national understanding for who we are and what we stand for, instead of the confusion, especially with groups that seem to not fall under the definition of a multicultural sorority.

I would LOVE to hear people's ideas on the future of mc orgs. Honestly, the two most established councils (NMGC and NAGC) for mc orgs do not, in my opinion, serve the needs of these organizations appropriately.

I also believe that, since mc sororities and fraternities don't really have a common foundational bond, we should be focusing on separate - but mutually supportive - councils for fraternities and sororities. I'd like to see the founding of a National Multicultural Sorority Council (NMSC) but of the national sororities I listed DXF is already NMGC and ZCF is NAGC.

That leaves ZSC, DGP and QNX.

To be honest, I would be happy to see these three sororities involved in national governing body. However, I'd prefer to see a "conference" with agreements that we promise to follow rather than a "council" that makes laws for our orgs. I think a conference would remain more sisterly.


ETA: NEWSFLASH! Delta Xi Nu seems to have broken out of its region and gone national!!

So that means that we have ZSC, DGP, QNX and DXN for a potential council.

[wrussell]

Originally posted by
I'm interested in learning more about the Latino Fraternities and Sororities. Could some of you that have joined share your experiences, as well as, chapter and national websites?

Hey, homie. I wanted to respond because I think you would find my particular experiance intrigueing, since I am African American who joined the largest Latino-based Multicultural Organization in the nation - Sigma Lambda Beta. The formalities - my chapter website -www.sigmalambdabeta.com/zetabeta and the national website is www.sigmalambdabeta.com.

Overall, my experiance has been great. I crossed a little over a year a go and in that first year I accomplished a ton of things. I went from revamping a chair position (campus involvement) and doing things with it that has never been to becoming a highly important chair (community service) and leading my chapter to having done the most community service in our council. I finally have arrived at being the second inline from the top (External Vice President), maybe, hopefully, the next president of my chapter. That is just fraternity-wise...On my council I have been one of the most outspoken members especially in dealings with the issue of expansion. At UF, our coucil seemed to have an air of eliteness that was unfounded and a couple of groups (Theta Nu Xi and Pi Delta Psi) had trouble getting on here - I spoke out for them when they couldn't speak for obvious reasons, but I take no credit for their arrival, it was all them. I am now the Executive Vice President of the council and I look the make the changes necessary. OK OK OK ENOUGH ABOUT THAT....THE PARTIES ARE BANANAS! And last but not least - self-improvement...my experiance has brought me to higher level. I am doing better in school (once the dust settle from my early months as brother, IT IS HARD FOR NEO, AM I LYING MY FELLOW GREEKS?) I am getting better physically, mentally, and spiritally. I wear my letters proud, but they did not make me. The made me better.

Like we say here at the Revolutionary Seta Beta Chapter at University of Florida....The true essence of a Beta man isn't perfection...but the desire to attain it.

BUT WE ALL SO SAY ( AND THIS IS FOR ALL GREEKS)....REP YOU SH!T OR GIVE IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!