Lambda Theta Phi
From Greekopedia | The Fraternity & Sorority Encylopedia
| ΛΘΦ | |
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| Fraternity Information | |
| Name: | Lambda Theta Phi |
| Founding Date: | December 1, 1975 |
| Founding Campus: | Kean University, New Jersey |
| Number Chapters: | 1 Undergraduate Chapters, 19 Colonies and 10 Alumni Associations |
| Council: | NALFO and NIC |
| Website: | www.lambda1975.org |
| NAME | Lambda Theta Phi |
| LETTERS | ΛΘΦ |
| NICKNAME | "Lambdas" |
| FOUNDING DATE | December 1, 1975 |
| FOUNDING UNIVERSITY | Kean College in Union, New Jersey. |
| TYPE | Social |
| SCOPE | National |
| COUNCIL | NALFO and NIC |
| MOTTO | Chivalry Above Self |
| COLORS | Brown White |
| SYMBOL | Conquistador |
| SONG | Latinos en Estados Unidos |
| FLOWER | White Carnation |
| ENTITIES | 81 Undergraduate Chapters, 19 Colonies and 10 Alumni Associations |
| HEADQUARTERS | 291 River Road, Suite 1 Clifton, New Jersey, USA |
| WEBSITE | www.lambda1975.org |
Contents |
History
On December 1, 1975, history was made – history on a college campus, which would transcend other colleges/universities throughout the United States; history which would have a positive impact on the Latino community and our nation; history which would forever change the Greek system, more specifically, the entity known as a fraternity. On December 1, 1975, Lambda Theta Phi was founded on the campus of Kean College in Union, New Jersey.
In 1975, there were no Latino fraternities in existence in the United States. The Greek-letter organizations of the time primarily catered to Anglo and African-American students and graduates. Lambda’s founders, as men of vision, realized there was a need to unite the Latino students, develop their leadership skills, impart upon them the value of an education, and instill in them a commitment to their community and culture. The traditional student club would not suffice to accomplish such lofty goals. Hence, Latino unity and brotherhood would be achieved through a long recognized institution – the fraternity. This newest addition to the Greek system would be the first in the nation, by identity and by name: Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated.
The ideals of this brotherhood are the following: Academic Excellence; Brotherhood; Leadership; Latino Unity; Service. On a daily basis, our brothers live up to these ideals, as set forth by fourteen young Latino men decades ago.
At the undergraduate level, our brothers are active within the Fraternity and in other student organizations. Our brothers perform community service, promote our culture by sponsoring events which highlight and celebrate our heritage, participate in educational workshops, and enjoy many social programs. As a result of their active participation in every aspect of college life, our undergraduates are developing their organizational, communication, and leadership skills, all while pursuing the coveted diploma. Our younger Lambdas are receiving the training and competence to serve as the future leaders of our brotherhood, community, and nation.
At the professional level, among our ranks you will find attorneys, doctors, and engineers. Our brothers are shaping young minds as educators and as dedicated fathers. The men in brown and white are defending this country at home and abroad in the area of law enforcement and in the armed forces. We are strengthening our country’s economy as entrepreneurs. Our brothers are teaching leadership as coaches, mentors, and community activists. The Lambdas are affecting policy and change as elected officials serving on City Councils, Boards of Education, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate. In short, Lambdas are contributing and excelling in every facet of human endeavor.
Since our founding, Lambda Theta Phi has established chapters in every region of the country at both the undergraduate and professional levels. Our brotherhood continues to provide the necessary skills and resources for the advancement and empowerment of our people and for the betterment of this nation.
Our illustrious history is not only our past but our guiding light to the future. As the first, we overcame many obstacles. Not having much guidance in our formative stages, we persevered and became stronger. Lambda is the product of vision, strength, and unity. Our history serves as a legacy and testament to our accomplishments and greatness.
Lambda Theta Phi … Academic Excellence – Brotherhood – Leadership – Latino Unity -Service.==Founding Fathers== From September to November 1975, a group of students, from which would eventually emerge the Founding Fathers of Lambda Theta Phi, met to find the solution to uniting the different Latino groups on campus.
These meetings were initiated by Founding Father García, who had already spearheaded an important breakthrough for Latino students by becoming the first Latino elected to the Kean College student government. The major topics of discussion at these meetings were the need to become politically conscious and active as Latino students and the unification of all Latinos, since at the time "Latin Unity" was not common among students of different Latino national origins.
At a meeting on November 11, 1975, Founding Father García proposed the idea of founding a fraternity. Having become familiar with the workings of the college administration and student government he recognized that a fraternity could promote Latin unity through brotherhood. He also understood that fraternities were an organizational structure that college administrators acknowledged and one with which they were accustomed. Lambda Theta Phi was founded as a Latin Fraternity.
Founders
- Wilfredo Ayes
- Hiram Cardona
- Rafael Crespo
- David Diaz
- Agustin Garcia
- Enrique Garcia
- Jose Ginarte
- Juan Hernandez
- Rinaldo Lago
- Luis Miranda I
- Henry Muñoz
- Walter Pardo-Villa
- Raul Roger
- Raymond Rosa
Conquistador
As the Founders moved forward with the development of the Fraternity, many issues had to be addressed and the “culture” and symbolism of the Fraternity had to be created. The fraternity colors needed to be selected, a method of pledging determined, and the ritual associated with the brotherhood. One item which has generated controversy over the years has been the use of the Conquistador as the mascot of the Fraternity. In addition, the individuals participating in the fraternity’s induction or pledge process are referred to as Conquistadores. The concept of the Conquistador as a symbol of the Fraternity was introduced by Founding Father Agustín García and Founding Father Wilfredo Ayes interjected the Conquistador into the pledge process for the first pledge line in the spring of 1978.
Representing the Spanish crown, the Conquistadors came to the Americas in the sixteenth century and committed genocide of the indigenous populations. Why, then, would our Founders adopt the Conquistador as a symbol of our brotherhood? The literal definition of the term, as opposed to the role the Conquistador played in our history, was the overriding consideration: one who conquers; one who overcomes; one who triumphs.
Annual Brotherhood Programs
The majority of programs, events and initiatives sponsored by Lambda Theta Phi are carried out at the undergraduate and alumni or sector levels. These activities include charity fundraising, community clean-ups, mentoring in schools, educational and cultural programming, and hosting motivational speakers on campus. Social events at the undergraduate level include picnics, mixers, and parties. Our alumni also engage in social activities ranging from poker and domino nights and pool tournaments to networking receptions.
Throughout the country, sectors convene to sponsor regional dinners and conferences modeled after the national events. Although special National Board events are presented sporadically, certain events are consistently sponsored by the National Board:
Annual Anniversary Awards Banquet
The Fraternity has sponsored an annual awards banquet dating back to December of 1978. The banquet is a formal event, which features keynote speakers, dancing and entertainment in an elegant ballroom setting. At the banquets, the National Board recognizes individuals, chapters and sectors for their contributions and accomplishments.
National Convention
The National Conventions are hosted every two years convening the voting representatives from all of the fraternity’s regions and the National Executive Board. Issues concerning the Fraternity at a national level are addressed, constitutional amendments, if any, are discussed and voted upon, and elections for the various national offices are held at these gatherings.
Brotherhood Conference
National Brotherhood Conferences are held on odd numbered years as a method to continuously educate our brotherhood on a variety of topics. Workshops are facilitated by alumni brothers and non-brothers, who specialize in specific fields. The conferences are aimed to meet both undergraduate and alumni interests.
In addition to the above, at our conventions and conferences, the attendees also enjoy recreational and social events. The locations have varied across the country based on proposals submitted by various sectors, which are selected via a competitive process conducted by the National Executive Board.
Notable Firsts:
First Latin Fraternity founded in the United States.
First Latin Fraternity to be recognized by the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
First Latino, Greek-letter organization to publish its history.
Entities
Undergraduate Chapters
Alpha Chapter: Kean University, Union, NJ
Beta Chapter: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Gamma Chapter: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Delta Chapter: Upsala College
Epsilon Chapter: Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Zeta Chapter: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Eta Chapter: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ Rutgers University - Newark, Newark, NJ
Theta Chapter: Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ
Iota Chapter: Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Kappa Chapter: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Lambda Chapter: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Mu Chapter: Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, NJ
Nu Chapter: St. Peter's College, Jersey City, NJ
Xi Chapter: William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ
Omicron Chapter: Rowan College of New Jersey, Glassboro, NJ
Pi Chapter: Monmouth University, Long Branch, NJ
Rho Chapter: West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Sigma Chapter: Farleigh Dickinson University, Madison/Teaneck, NJ
Tau Chapter: Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Upsilon Chapter: University of Hartford, Hartford, CT
Phi Chapter: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Chi Chapter: Cornell University, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
Psi Chapter: Trinity College , Hartford, CT
Omega Chapter: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Alpha Alpha Chapter: University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
Alpha Beta Chapter: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Alpha Gamma Chapter: West Virginia Wesleyan University, Buckhannon, WV
Alpha Delta Chapter: California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, CA
Alpha Epsilon Chapter: Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ
Alpha Zeta Chapter: University of California, Riverside - Riverside, CA
Alpha Eta Chapter: University of Texas at Austin, TX
Alpha Theta Chapter: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Alpha Iota Chapter: California State University, Long Beach, CA
Alpha Kappa Chapter: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Alpha Lambda Chapter: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Alpha Mu Chapter: LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY
Alpha Nu Chapter: Penn State University, University Park, PA
Alpha Xi Chapter: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Alpha Omicron Chapter: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Alpha Pi Chapter: New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ
Alpha Rho Chapter: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Alpha Sigma Chapter: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Alpha Tau Chapter: University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Alpha Upsilon Chapter: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Alpha Phi Chapter: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Alpha Chi Chapter: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Alpha Psi Chapter: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Alpha Omega Chapter: California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Beta Alpha Chapter: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Beta Beta Chapter: University of Texas - Arlington, TXv
Beta Gamma Chapter: Nova Southeastern University, Florida
Beta Delta Chapter: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
Beta Epsilon Chapter: University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan
Beta Zeta Chapter: San Jose State University, CA
Beta Eta Chapter: Vanderbilt University, TN
Beta Theta Chapter: University of Miami, Fl
Beta Iota Chapter: Florida State University, Fl
Beta Kappa Chapter: California State University - San Bernardino, California
Beta Lambda Chapter: University of Southern California, CA
Beta Mu Chapter: University of Maryland - Baltimore County, MD
Beta Nu Chapter: Fairleigh Dickinson University - Madison, NJ
Beta Xi Chapter: Florida Atlantic University, Fl
Beta Omicron Chapter: California State University - Fresno, CA
Beta Pi Chapter: Texas Christian University - Fort Worth, TX
Beta Rho Chapter: Texas State University - San Marcos, TX
Beta Sigma Chapter: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Beta Tau Chapter: Texas Wesleyan University - Fort Worth, TX
Beta Upsilon Chapter: University of California, Davis - Davis, CA
Beta Phi Chapter: Ramapo College, NJ
Beta Chi Chapter: University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley, CA
Beta Psi Chapter: Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Beta Omega Chapter: Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Gamma Alpha Chapter: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Gamma Beta Chapter: University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ
Gamma Gamma Chapter: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Gamma Delta Chapter: University of California, Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA
Gamma Epsilon Chapter: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Gamma Zeta Chapter: San Francisco State University / University of San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
Gamma Eta Chapter: California State University, Fullerton - Fullerton, CA
Gamma Theta Chapter: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Gamma Iota Chapter: University of North Carolina - Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Gamma Kappa Chapter: Wayne State University- Detroit, MI
Colonies
California State University - Los Angeles
California State University East Bay
Iona College
Tarleton State University
City University of New York - John Jay
Eastern New Mexico University
Miami International University of Art
Barry University
State University of NY at Stony Brook
Towson University
Middle Tennessee State University
George Mason University
University of Idaho
University of North Carolina - Pembroke
University of Northern Iowa
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kennesaw State University
Georgia State University
Alumni/Graduate Chapters
Lambda Alpha - NY Alumni Chapter
Lambda Beta - Fla. Alumni Chapter
Lambda Gamma - NJ Alumni Chapter
Lambda Delta - NM Alumni Chapter
South Florida Colony
Atlanta Colony
South California Colony
Texas Colony
Illinois Colony
Affiliations
By joining similar and diverse groups, Lambda Theta Phi has increased the exposure of Latino Greek Letter Organizations. In May of 1992, Lambda Theta Phi became the first Latin Fraternity to be a part of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The NIC is an organization composed of the national collegiate fraternities of the United States and Canada.
Lambda Theta Phi is affiliated as a full member of the following organizations:
- National Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
- Fraternity Executives Association (FEA)
- United States Chamber of Commerce
- Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
- National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
- Foundation Section of the National Interfraternity Conference
