Daniel Rivera '98, Arnesto Cuevas '98, Fernando Diaz '00 and Rolando Lopez '00 are working to establish the College's first Latino fraternity, a colony of the national fraternity La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, a historically Latino fraternity.
This weekend, they met with members from chapters of Lambda Upsilon Lambda on Friday to increase support for the fraternity's efforts to receive formal recognition from the College.
"We had the idea to start a Latino fraternity since we were freshman," said Rivera, president of the fraternity's Psi colony.
"I think that a Latino fraternity -- it's not about exclusion or self-alienation -- is another supportive resource for Latinos, a vehicle to educate about the Latino community," Rivera said.
According to Rivera, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, established in 1982 at Cornell University, is one of the largest Latino fraternities in the nation. It consists of 26 chapters and three colonies nationwide.
A colony, like the one at the College, is the name used for a chapter when there are less than five members, he said.
The fraternity would be focused on community service and cultural awareness, including possibly hosting discussion panels and speakers that would help people to better understand Latino identity issues.
Rivera said the fraternity is interested in doing "anything that would help the College community as a whole."
Rivera said the group hopes to meet with Dean of the College Lee Pelton during Spring term to discuss its proposal for recognition.
He said he will need to submit a constitution, the history of the organization and a letter from the national fraternity to the office of residential life.
Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco, whose office oversees Greek organizations, was unavailable for comment.
Because of the small size of the group, Rivera said, the members are not currently considering looking for a house. They are most concerned right now with "what things we are going to do" and "how we are going to make a good impression," he said.
