Latino Greek Letter Organizations

[rocketgirl]

Originally posted by Private I
Actually brownsugar, there are a lot of people that join culture specific orgs. that are not members of those specific cultures and I do not think there's anything wrong with that. I do think that it's a personal choice whether a Latina is a member of a BGLO or someone white joined an Asian-interest sorority. But once you do join one of them, you have to understand that the programming etc WILL be geared towards that specific group and that exceptions don't really have to be made, because the members aren't swaying from the original purpose of their org.'s founding.

To Tom: I agree that if people aren't satisfied with what their campus offers, they should look into other things. I think it is the 'founderitis' movement that we were discussing though.

Agree with both parts. I would never join a Asian sorority and expect there to all of a sudden be a few programs geared towards African-Americans just because I'm around. If I joined an Asian sorority, it would be because I wanted to be involved in the Asian interest programming, not to get more African-American's involved in the organization.

And yes..there is a big rash of founderitis now a days. And it seems to be catching...

[rocketgirl]

Originally posted by LatinaAlumna


That being said, I would also like to say that I strongly support the sororities out there that are multi-cultural in founding, in principle, and in membership. I think you are a vital part of campus life, and you are a support system for so many women, from so many different backgrounds. It is very nice to see the increased recognition that the true multicultural sororities are now receiving. There is strength in organizations of one predominate background, and there is strength in organizations with members of many backgrounds.

Thanks for that I think that all types of organizations work to make the greek system what it is and it's the option we have to join different organizations that makes our decision and dedication to the one we decide to join even more.

[audaz49]

Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. is, as I have said before, a Historically Latina Sorority with Multicultural Membership. I have explained this in my own words, but I would like to quote here what the National Organization as a whole has to say about this:
SLG
Our Guiding Mission & Vision Statement

Mission Statement

Sigma Lambda Gamma strives to be the premier organization committed to providing a mechanism of empowerment to all women.

Through a network of close to 3,000 multicultural sisters from collegiate chapters and alumnae associations located across the United States, we promote academic excellence and higher education for all women via a dedication and incorporation of the sorority principles – Academics, Community Service, Cultural Awareness, Morals & Ethics, and Social Interaction – in our lives.

Vision Statement

Recognizing our responsibility to the progression of a positive global community, we stress the importance of morals, ethics, and education in our daily lives so that we serve the needs of our neighbors through a mutual respect and understanding of our varying cultures.


These statements are intended to make clear the path that our growth and programming is to take into the future. The programming offered by Sigma Lambda Gamma should be multicultural in aspect if only to fulfill our vision statement, if not, and this should be the real purpose, to fulfill each member's personal values and desires for the growth and education of every woman, something we all should hold dear to us.

I have, in the past, been questioned about the focus of my sorority, and why we bother with multicultural programming when we are clearly a Latina organization (something abundantly evident on my campus), and what I said then is just as true today: Regardless of the race, ethnicity, creed, culture, nationality, or any other difference in women, Sigma Lambda Gamma is here to serve for the advancement and education of every woman, everywhere.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by audaz49
Regardless of the race, ethnicity, creed, culture, nationality, or any other difference in women, Sigma Lambda Gamma is here to serve for the advancement and education of every woman, everywhere.

It makes sense to me! This is probably stupid, but Doctors Without Borders popped into my head. The group is made pretty much completely of doctors, but there is diversity even among them. Their goal is to help everyone in need.

"MSF was founded in 1971 by a small group of French doctors who believed that all people have the right to medical care regardless of race,religion, creed or political affiliation, and that the needs of these people supersede respect for national borders. It was the first non-governmental organization to both provide emergency medical assistance and publicly bear witness to the plight of the populations they served." -- From their website

"We are by nature an organization that is unable to tolerate indifference. We hope that by arousing awareness and a desire to understand, we will also stir up indignation and stimulate action." -- Rony Brauman, MD, Former President, MSF

[Private I]

hmm...the thing about Doctors without Borders is that they pick and choose whom to help-I remember in Kosovo they would help Albanians but refused to assist Serbs...I found that ironic...

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Private I
hmm...the thing about Doctors without Borders is that they pick and choose whom to help-I remember in Kosovo they would help Albanians but refused to assist Serbs...I found that ironic...

That's unfortunate and just goes to show that nothing is pure.

[Private I]

I pm'ed you.

[bsp-mich24]

Here is another primarily Latina GLO (accepts others from what I can tell)....

Lambda Sigma Gamma Sorority Inc. Alpha chapter was founded at Cal State Univ, Sacramento (CSUS) Oct 24, 1986. The national link is currently inactive.

The Chico State Univ (Gamma) link is http://www.csuchico.edu/lsg/lsg.html

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by bsp-mich24
Here is another primarily Latina GLO (accepts others from what I can tell)....

Lambda Sigma Gamma Sorority Inc. Alpha chapter was founded at Cal State Univ, Sacramento (CSUS) Oct 24, 1986. The national link is currently inactive.

The Chico State Univ (Gamma) link is http://www.csuchico.edu/lsg/lsg.html

Lambda Sigma Gamma was founded as a multicultural sorority. However, I believe this is one of the organizations that, while founded as specifically multicultural, is actually not reflecting the original mission in its membership.

[preciousjeni]

Hey audaz! I was meaning to post this but forgot. From the Demographics section of your national website:

Sigma Lambda Gamma believes that Culture is Pride, Pride is Success. We explore the richness in the traditions of Latina culture. This encompasses the cultural heritages of Native Americans (North, Central and South), Europeans, Africans, Asians and their multiple and interesting mixtures. We celebrate the diversity of the backgrounds of all the members of our sorority. Through these efforts in cultural awareness, we expect that each woman will explore their roots and traditions and share those with other individuals so that cultural understanding and respect are promoted. We hope to create new traditions for future generations of women to celebrate their identity and heritage with pride and joy throughout the college years.[/b]

This backs up what I was saying before about the fact that broad cultures have enormous diversity within them. Would you still say that

The programming offered by Sigma Lambda Gamma should be multicultural in aspect if only to fulfill our vision statement, if not, and this should be the real purpose, to fulfill each member's personal values and desires for the growth and education of every woman, something we all should hold dear to us.

or should non-Latinas be expected to fulfill the organization's dedication to "explore the richness in the traditions of Latina culture."

(Or am I completely misreading your previous statements??)

[phisigduchesscv]

There is one aspect about Latino/a Greeks and whether they are multicultural that seems to be forgotten. I think non-latino/a people often lump anyone from Mexico, Central and South America as all one cultural. Truly they are all very different from country to country. Or at least here in Los Angeles differences are made about where people are from.

From the women I know at work, in my sorority and some of the Latina Greeks (CSUDH has KDChis, SIAs, and Sigma Lambda Gamma) the women don't only celebrate the fact that they are Latina but their distinct cultural heritage. Let me tell you I've heard some interesting discussions between Mexican, El Savadoran, Guatemalan, Chilean, Puerto Rican, and Belizian women and the differences in their cultures. I have also learned a lot from these women about the differences as well.

So in essence although they are celebrating Latino/a culture they are truly multicultural in every sense of the word.

[audaz49]

jeni~

i don't think i understand your last question to me, so i can't really reply... can you try to rephrase it? thanks

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by audaz49
jeni~

i don't think i understand your last question to me, so i can't really reply... can you try to rephrase it? thanks

Certainly. My question is regarding whether or not you believe (A) that all members, including non-Latinas, of Sigma Lambda Gamma should be fulfilling the organization's commitment to "the richness in the traditions of Latina culture"

or

(B) that non-Latina members can expect that the organization will incorporate elements of their own cultures and move in a direction other than Latina culture?

[I broke up the sentence because it was way too long!]

The way I see these two options, (A) is what NPHCs currently do. Regardless of your background, if you join, you know you will be committed to the original purpose of serving the black community.

And, (B) is kinda what NPCs attempt to do, but we have to remember that these orgs are social not service or political. While they historically would have been more involved in issues related to Caucasians, as the chapters become more diverse, the events and programs are diversifying as well.

[audaz49]

It may just be me, but I see the answer to that question in the quote that you used from our national webpage.

"Sigma Lambda Gamma believes that Culture is Pride, Pride is Success. We explore the richness in the traditions of Latina culture. This encompasses the cultural heritages of Native Americans (North, Central and South), Europeans, Africans, Asians and their multiple and interesting mixtures. We celebrate the diversity of the backgrounds of all the members of our sorority. Through these efforts in cultural awareness, we expect that each woman will explore their roots and traditions and share those with other individuals so that cultural understanding and respect are promoted. We hope to create new traditions for future generations of women to celebrate their identity and heritage with pride and joy throughout the college years."

The bolded sections of the above quote show that while we do emphasize the Latina cultures as a rule, each woman must contribute her own cultural background and knowledge to truly fulfill the mission of Sigma Lambda Gamma. The focus of each chapter of our organization is shaped by the membership of that chapter. There are no limits on what cultures Sigma Lambda Gamma will learn and teach about.

Is that what you were asking?

[rocketgirl]

This is a quote from the SLG website:

Sigma Lambda Gamma is the largest national Latina-based sorority with a diverse multicultural membership in the United States.

So based upon that, I would say that SLG is a Latina sorority. Now as someone said earlier in this forum, there are women I know who swear to the death that SLG is a multicultural sorority. I also know women whow swear to the death that SLG is a Latina sorority. The website says it's a Latina sorority.

Audaz, my question for you, is SLG becoming and/or working towards becoming a multicultural sorority? Obviously if you are incorporating the programming of your multicultural membership that is one step in that direction. What would happen if someone decided to name a line in a language other than Spanish? Is that acceptable? I guess my question is how far can you go before you cross that line that takes you from a Latina based organization to a multicultural organization. The other question is does SLG mind crossing that line based upon the demographics page of your website?