New Latino Fraternity On Campus
			From the Diamondback, Monday, February 12, 1996. An Independent Student Newspaper-University of Maryland, College Park. Maryland Media Inc. By Renee Samuels Diamondback staff writer
			The newest campus fraternity, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, may appear like many other Greek organizations at first glance it sponsors social activities and community service projects and strive toward academic excellence. But Lambda Upsilon Lambda is the first Latino fraternity on campus. A year-long process of building an interest group, pledging and traveling along the East Coast culminated in the creation of the Phi Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Chapter President Juan Sempertegui said two Lambda members first encountered the fraternity in New York while attending a parade celebrating Puerto Rican heritage. A Latino fraternity was a new concept for Sempertegui, a junior finance major. 'There are actually four different national Latino fraternities that I am aware of,' he said. 'Two brothers saw them while they were in New York. We approached all of them and did research, but [Lambda] really impressed us.' After learning more about the organization from the National Council, the fraternity's New York-based headquarters, the students spent the summer as an interest group. They posted flyers about the fraternity to draw campus interest. There was an initial response of about 40 people. Students then began meetings with a Lambda member who was living in the Washington area. For other Greeks, there are usually chapters at neighboring colleges and universities where prospective pledges can go. But the nearest Lambda Upsilon Lambda chapters are at Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania. 'We did some traveling back and forth between Maryland, North Carolina and Pennsylvania,' said Jason Jennings, a public policy and business management graduate student. Nine of the original 40 students crossed over, and Lambda received its charter from the National Council in December. With nearly 20 fraternities on campus, Sempertegui said there was still need for another one. '[Lambda] is geared towards Latinos,' he said. 'This organization indulged our culture. By joining a historically white or black organization, we would have had to assimilate to their cultures, and we did not want to do that.' Although Lambda has a Latino focus, there are members of other ethnicities and races within its organization. 'In our chapter of ten members, there is one African American and one Ethiopian,' Jennings said. 'Being Latino is not a requirement.' The National Council recognizes the Phi Chapter, but it must join either the Interfraternity Council or the PanHellenic Council to be an official Greek letter organization on campus. Even though Lambda is only a few months old, it already has become active on campus and in the community. Sempertegui said,'Our top three priorities are instilling a sense of familia (family), academic advancement and community service.'
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