Latino Greek Letter Organizations

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I don't think so.... the members I know just consider it a multicultural sorority. Their national website doesn't say "minority multicultural" -- but maybe other sources say that because other sororities before MSU were founded to be non-sectarian and therefore happened to be multicultural.

Here's a link as well from the Siksika Chapter - the second chapter founded:

http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/clubs/mus...al_History.htm

By the way, I wasn't suggesting that MSU limits itself to a minority membership. I was talking about the org's history and why they might be confused as a Latina sorority.

[preciousjeni]

Hey all - I just heard that Sigma Lambda Gamma has joined the NMGC. Can anyone confirm?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Hey all - I just heard that Sigma Lambda Gamma has joined the NMGC. Can anyone confirm?

I haven't heard. I'm sure it will be on their website soon if it's true.

[Serenity]

This thread was definitely good reading. I was not even aware of this "trend". I can't understand why an organization would change their focus. It doesn't seem right. Plus, it's confusing.

At the very least, members of the same organization should know whether they are in a Latino or multicultural organization.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I haven't heard. I'm sure it will be on their website soon if it's true.

Certainly. I really am interested in the development of the NMGC even if it seems like I'm down on the council sometimes. I expect much from it.

[TotallyWicked]

I am not too surprised if SLG joined the NMGC, alot of Latino orgs have confused me going back and forth from calling themselves a Latino org to a Multicultural org, while we do have a very diverse membership, we need to let folks know the difference between make up and orientation.

[L.O.C.K.]

Yea, the whole "Multicultural" but being like 90% of one race kind of defeats the purpose. I mean, if a D9 org began calling themselves "Multicultural" in terms of their membership, it'd be true to a point (as there are obviously non-Blacks in D9 orgs) but it wouldn't make much sense.

I think the reason why you're seeing it so much in LGLOs is b/c of the nature of what it is to be Latino/Latina. You have some Latino ethnicities that have much more influence from certain cultures than others. What does it "mean" to be Latino? Who is Latino? Is an Asian person who lives in a South/Latin American country and then comes to the US Latino? Is an African immigrant to Argentina who then comes to the US Latino as well?

There are a lot of great books on "being" Latino and the experience of Latino/a's which shed a lot of light for me on the issue. I highly recommend Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas (a member of La Unidad Latina/Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. btw). Talks about his life as a Black Puerto Rican. VERY VERY VERY good book and enjoyable to read too.

And another thing...if you have members from two ethnicites/races (ie Black and Latino) as your primary membership, wouldn't that be Bi-Cultural as opposed to Multicultural? B/c as far as I know, the supposed "Multicultural" Latino/a organizations are mostly Latino/a and Black with very few Asians...not sure about whites or Native Americans but I assume these numbers are also small. Also, does Multicultural come from membership or who their programs are targeted towards?? Just food for thought.

[ZChi4Life]

Originally Posted by L.O.C.K.

Also, does Multicultural come from membership or who their programs are targeted towards?? Just food for thought.

I can only speak for my org, but I'm sure other MCGLOs will agree, MC for us comes from membership AND the entire focus/purpose of our organization. Multiculturalism is encompassed in our programming, community service, etc, etc. We don't serve just one type of ethnic/racial community, we serve everyone.

Personally, I have a problem with organizations that switch from Latino/a to MC and continue to serve only the Latino community. If you are going to switch, then fine. But switch on a national level. I have seen many latina sororities on campuses where my sorority is also located do this switch in attempts to increase numbers. It's not cool to me to do that. If you are truly trying to be MC, that's great! But don't switch to increase membership or b/c there seems to be a lack of interest from the Latino community. It's very confusing and frankly, it's not serving the true intent of the org's foundation. Again, switching is fine, but to me it should be done on a national level so that everyone (members and interests) is on the same page.

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Hey all - I just heard that Sigma Lambda Gamma has joined the NMGC. Can anyone confirm?

It's news to me. Imma have to wait to see if/when they are added to the NMGC list of member organizations.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by ZChi4Life

I can only speak for my org, but I'm sure other MCGLOs will agree, MC for us comes from membership AND the entire focus/purpose of our organization. Multiculturalism is encompassed in our programming, community service, etc, etc. We don't serve just one type of ethnic/racial community, we serve everyone.

Personally, I have a problem with organizations that switch from Latino/a to MC and continue to serve only the Latino community. If you are going to switch, then fine. But switch on a national level. I have seen many latina sororities on campuses where my sorority is also located do this switch in attempts to increase numbers. It's not cool to me to do that. If you are truly trying to be MC, that's great! But don't switch to increase membership or b/c there seems to be a lack of interest from the Latino community. It's very confusing and frankly, it's not serving the true intent of the org's foundation. Again, switching is fine, but to me it should be done on a national level so that everyone (members and interests) is on the same page.

Co-sign. Audaz from GC is a member of SLG and has shed some light on what's happening. She is one of those who continue to say that SLG is a Latina sorority but with a multicultural membership. I would say that's the case for a number of orgs.

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Co-sign. Audaz from GC is a member of SLG and has shed some light on what's happening. She is one of those who continue to say that SLG is a Latina sorority but with a multicultural membership. I would say that's the case for a number of orgs.

Then I guess that means that every org is multicultural, since we all (NIC/NPC/NPHC/NALFO/NMGC) have a diverse range of members.

I bet that no one is willing to answer the question, but why would an org want to "turn their back" on their history and basis of founding just to recruit members? I wouldn't want to sacrifice my orgs ideals and unique culture just for numbers. I would want folks to want to be a member of my org because of what we are and what we do, not because they think we are something else...

[Serenity]

Originally Posted by ZChi4Life

Personally, I have a problem with organizations that switch from Latino/a to MC and continue to serve only the Latino community. If you are going to switch, then fine. But switch on a national level. I have seen many latina sororities on campuses where my sorority is also located do this switch in attempts to increase numbers. It's not cool to me to do that. If you are truly trying to be MC, that's great! But don't switch to increase membership or b/c there seems to be a lack of interest from the Latino community. It's very confusing and frankly, it's not serving the true intent of the org's foundation. Again, switching is fine, but to me it should be done on a national level so that everyone (members and interests) is on the same page.

I hear you. I just don't think switching is fine. At all. I don't think you can be part of a national organization and just change things around to "increase numbers" on your campus. I'd rather we die out on a specific campus (and we have) and stay true to our focus/potential members then to switch up. Somehow, that seems so disingenuous.

[L.O.C.K.]

Co-co-co-sign.

Yea, I'm surprised SLG joined the NMGC. I mean, I guess they are changing their membership focus??? But I know that they are the second largest Latina-based sorority, so I really don't see why they should be struggling for numbers.

[zchi2]

If it is true that they joined NMGC, I wonder if they are going to keep their membership with NALFO?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by zchi2

If it is true that they joined NMGC, I wonder if they are going to keep their membership with NALFO?

i dont see why not - there are quite a few orgs that are on multiple councils. i dont see what the conflict would be.