Lambda Upsilon Lambda

ΛΥΛ
Fraternity Information
Name:	Lambda Upsilon Lambda
Founding Date:	February 19, 1982
Founding Campus:	Cornell University
Number Chapters:	66 undergrad, 13 alumni
Council:	NALFO
Website:	www.launidadlatina.org
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NAME	Lambda Upsilon Lambda
LETTERS	ΛΥΛ
NICKNAMES	Lambdas, Elite Lambdas, LUL
FOUNDING DATE	February 19, 1982
FOUNDING UNIVERSITY	Cornell University
TYPE	Social
SCOPE	National
COUNCIL	NALFO
MOTTO	Cultivating Leaders, Strengthening Communities
COLORS	Brown Gold
PHILANTHROPY	P.A.T.H.E. Initiative
CHAPTERS	66 undergrad, 13 alumni
HEADQUARTERS	511 Sixth Avenue, PMB #39 New York, New York, USA
WEBSITE	www.launidadlatina.org

History

Mission Statement

Since its inception in 1982, La Unidad Latina has remained on the vanguard of political and community empowerment by developing influential leaders that strive to exert knowledge and power into its peers in order to attain mutual success. LUL is committed to academic excellence, leadership development and cultural enlightenment, enhanced by a diverse cognizant membership. LUL strives to preserve and promote an inclusive intellectual environment for its members, in addition to the general community.

Founding Fathers

The Idea

In the fantasy land that it sometimes seemed like up at Cornell University (especially for a Latino from New York City), in the summer of 1981, an idea was born. It was an idea that would take a life of its own. A conversation was started by a group of Latinos on campus that summer brought up the fact that there was a need for a Latino fraternity at Cornell. At the time, there was little choice for Latinos who wanted to join a fraternity; you either joined a traditionally white fraternity or a traditionally black one. This group of Latinos began not only to talk about the idea of creating a Latino fraternity, but to take some steps towards building one. From that summer conversation sprung informal meetings to discuss the idea.

I was working as a Peer Counselor for the minority Summer Program at the time. Everyone agreed that there was a need for brotherhood and unity as well as a need for more cultural expression and exchange of ideas between Latinos at Cornell, but very few where willing to commit to more than words. We all wanted this new fraternity to not be a typical fraternity - less Animal House and more one of true Latino Unity and Culture and academic excellence. We wanted this new fraternity to shine for its Latino pride and represent all that is good in our people and culture.

The Early Days

That following semester (Fall 1981) the work began on organizing the Latino fraternity. The organizing was slow. Most people indicated an interest in the mission, but few committed themselves. The first few meetings were attended by only a handful of people. After the fourth meeting, the core group had expanded. A club, La Unidad Latina was registered with the university on 9/15/81, with myself as President. The intent was to register first as a club and then officially become a fraternity. After much work at recruiting people, the fraternity started to gain form. From approximately 30 interested men, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity was formed with 13 members:

The Founding Fathers of La Unidad Latina are: 1. Hermano William Barba
2. Hermano Dennis DeJesus
3. Hermano Hernando Londoño
4. Hermano Jessie Luis
5. Hermano Samuel Ramos
6. Hermano Tomas Rincon
7. Hermano Edwin Rivera
8. Hermano Mario Rivera
9. Hermano Victor Rodriguez
10. Hermano Victor Silva
11. Hermano Jose Torres
12. Hermano Henry Villareal
13. Hermano Jim Ziebel

It was very tough to get engineers and pre-meds to give up any of their free time, but in spite of this, we marched forward. The fraternity was finally registered as an official fraternity with the university in the beginning of the second semester, January 1982. On Friday, February 19 1982, an initiation ceremony was held at Henry Villareals (our faculty advisor) home, and we became the Founding Fathers (Los Fundadores) of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity. La Fraternidad uses the February 19, 1982, as the founding date because it was at this ceremony, that the group formally took their oaths and became Hermanos of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. The idea of a Latino Fraternity originated out of a need at the Cornell campus. In that environment there was a small number of Latinos relative to the rest of the population, as well as an almost non-existent Latino community around the university. The existing Latino student organizations did not provide enough sense of unity among the Latino population. There was no focal point for Latino culture. Many of the students needed a place to find their cultural roots. There were also many divisions among the Latinos. These factors coalesced to create the need for the creation of La Fraternidad. The need was there, and through the hard work, dedication, and faith in our destiny, La Fraternidad was founded.[1] La Unidad Para Siempre!

Campus Activism

Cornell University 1993

In the fall of 1993 the Hispanic America Study Program, in conjunction with the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, brought eight Hispanic artists to Cornell for site-specific exhibitions entitled Revelaciones/Revelations: Hispanfic Art of Evanescence[2]. The works explored aesthetic, political and cultural issues. Jose Pierda, director of the Hispanic American Studies Program in 1993 and one of the two curators of the exhibition, stated that “one of the pieces erects barriers along the pathways of the Art Quadrangle, which disturbs the sense of permanent and the path and things can be taken for granted.”

This artwork that Piedra refers to entitled The Castle is Burning, by Daniel J. Martinez, is what helped ignite the second takeovers of Day Hall, Cornell’s administrative building. The first take over of Day Hall in 1991 lasted less than a day, but on November 19, 1993 U.S. Latino students and supporters once again took over Day Hall, but this time for three consecutive days. The Takeover began with a protest against the acts of vandalism of Daniel J. Martinez’ artwork on the Arts Quad.

Many of the leaders during the takeover were Hermanos. Hermano Eduardo Penalver was a primary leader of the takeover. Eduardo would become a Rhodes Scholar going on to Oxford, Yale Law School and was a clerk for a US Supreme Court Justice. He is now a Cornell Law Professor. There were about ten Hermanos that were inside the building taking part or leading the sit-in. However, there were about another ten Hermanos outside the building coordinating efforts of support. Hermanos were using a ladder to climb near windows to give people food, books and information – cells phones were not common at the time. Hermanos outside the building were also coordinating with Hermanos from other top-tier institutions for letters of support. Those inside were briefly expelled from Cornell, but Hermano and Professor Hector Velez as well as other Professors threatened to leave the University if the students were not reinstated.)

On Friday there was a Rally in which Hermano James De La Vega, an artist himself, spoke to the students against the defacement of the artwork by Daniel J Martinez.

The protests turned contentious as students needed to form a human barricade around the artwork to prevent furthuer vandalism. Students eventually were frustrated and sought an open meeting with then President of the University Frank Rhodes, to discuss the problems facing the Latino community at Cornell. Students left the rally and headed to the main administrative building to talk to the University President.

The Rally turned into a march towards Day Hall, the administrative building. The march was led, in part, by Hermanos Mike Moreno and Eduardo Penalver. Approximately 200 students remained in Day Hall demanding a meeting to discuss a list of demands that they composed addressing issues of the Latino community. The University police eventually closed off the building not allowing anyone in. The work week was over on Friday and the University President was out of town so it appeared that the sit-in was going to last all weekend. The number of students reduced to about 70 as [the sit-in was becoming a take-over. While in the building students did various things such as study, hold workshops, and create art that would hang throughout the building walls and outside the building.

While in the building James De La Vega painted an art piece that included a quote from Che Guevara – “Allow me to say…that a true revolutionary…is guide by great feelings of love.” While hanging the artwork outside the building, Hermanos James, Eduardo, Mike and Jimmy were photographed—the photo also appeared in the USA Today.

While in the building the student leaders of the sit-in discussed a list of demands that they sought from the University. There were nine demands in total. The first two were asking for President Rhodes to condemn the destruction of the artwork and “acknowledge the problems of Latino students on Campus.” The next few demands asked for an increase funding of activities, programs, library resources and funds that would assist in the recruitment of professors. The final demand was for the creation of a Latino Living Center, a “resident college that would focus on interest in Latino culture.” The Latino Living Center opened its doors in the Fall of 1994 and two new Latino Professors arrived on campus.

Chapters

Undergraduate Chapters

Alpha Chapter - Cornell University
Beta Chapter - State University of New York at Binghamton, State University of New York at Cortland
Delta Chapter - University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University & Temple University
Epsilon Chapter - Buffalo State College, SUNY Buffalo, Canisius College, Daemen College, D'Youville College
Zeta Chapter - Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island College
Eta Chapter - State University of New York at Albany
Theta Chapter - Syracuse University
Iota Chapter - Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Kappa Chapter - Yale University
Lambda Chapter - Long Island University at C.W. Post, State University of New York at Old Westbury
Mu Chapter - University of Rhode Island
Nu Chapter - Harvard University, Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston College, and Northeastern University
Xi Chapter - Princeton University & Rider University
Omicron Chapter - New York University
Pi Chapter - State University of New York at New Paltz
Rho Chapter - Duke University
Sigma Chapter - Wesleyan University
Tau Chapter - Rutgers University - Newark
Upsilon Chapter - State University of New York at Stony Brook
Phi Chapter - University of Maryland, College Park & Johns Hopkins University
Chi Chapter - Georgetown University, George Washington University, & American University
Psi Chapter - Dartmouth College
Omega Chapter - Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, Nazareth College, & St. John Fisher College
Alpha Alpha Chapter - Stevens Institute of Technology
Alpha Beta Chapter - University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Alpha Gamma Chapter - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Alpha Delta Chapter - George Mason University
Alpha Epsilon Chapter - University of Virginia & Virginia Commonwealth University
Alpha Zeta Chapter - University of Chicago, DePaul University, Columbia College & Loyola University
Alpha Eta Chapter - Columbia University, Fordham University & John Jay College
Alpha Theta Chapter - Our Lady of the Lake University
Alpha Iota Chapter - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alpha Kappa Colony - Montclair State University
Alpha Lambda Chapter - St. John's University
Alpha Mu Chapter - State University of New York at Oswego
Alpha Nu Chapter - Seton Hall University
Alpha Xi Chapter - Indiana University - Bloomington
Alpha Omicron Colony - James Madison University
Alpha Pi Colony - Ramapo College of New Jersey
Alpha Rho Chapter - Florida International University
Alpha Sigma Colony - Georgia Institute of Technology
Alpha Tau Chapter - Hamilton College
Alpha Upsilon Colony - Hofstra University
Alpha Phi Chapter - University of Southern California
Alpha Chi Chapter - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Alpha Psi Chapter - Virginia Commonwealth University
Alpha Omega Chapter - William Paterson University
Beta Alpha Chapter - Old Dominion University
Beta Beta Chapter - Baruch College
University of South Florida Colony
University of Connecticut Colony
Pace University Colony

Graduate Chapters

Gamma Alpha Chapter - New York, NY
Gamma Beta Chapter - Philadelphia, PA
Gamma Gamma Chapter - Buffalo, NY
Gamma Delta Chapter - Providence, RI
Gamma Epsilon Chapter - Washington, DC Metro Area
Gamma Zeta Chapter - Chicago, IL
Gamma Eta Chapter - New Jersey
Gamma Theta Chapter - Austin, TX
Gamma Iota Chapter - Los Angeles, CA
Gamma Kappa Chapter - Miami, FL
Gamma Lambda Chapter - Long Island, NY
Gamma Mu Chapter - Atlanta, GA
Gamma Nu Chapter - Orlando, FL
Gamma Xi Chapter - Albany, NY

Fraternal Traditions

Noche Dorada

Noche Dorada, which translated into English means “The Golden Night” is a fraternal tradition usually held to commemorate the anniversary of the chapter’s founding. The tradition began in October 1993 at SUNY Binghamton. Noche Dorada is a semi-formal event used to celebrate Latino culture, the resilience of Latinos in the face of adversity, and the role of La Unidad Latina within both. The event was conceived by Hermano Eric Contreras, who shared it with the Binghamton Hermanos who developed it into a week Semana Dorada and Festival Dorado, consisting of workshops, events and fundraisers. Each of the Noches is centered around a theme.

Gala

La Unidad Latina's Annual Celebration began in 1989, as the National Council developed this dual purpose event to celebrate the achievements of the Fraternity and Latino Community as well as a vehicle to drive the future of the Fraternity through a National Convention that would bring together Hermanos from all of the Chapters nation-wide annually.

Previous Gala Locations

1989 – New York (Cornell University)
1990 – New York (Buffalo State College)
1991 – New York (Binghamton University)
1992 – Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
1993 – Rhode Island (Brown University)
1994 – New York (Syracuse University)
1995 – New York (University of Albany)
1996 – New Jersey (Rutgers University)
1997 – Connecticut (Yale University)
1998 – New York (Long Island University, CW Post)
1999 – New York (Grand Prospect Hall)
2000 – New York City (Grand Prospect Hall)
2001 – New York City (Grand Prospect Hall)
2002 – New York (Terrace on the Park)
2003 – New York (Grand Prospect Hall)
2004 – New York (Altman Building)
2005 - New York City (Grand Prospect Hall)
2006 - New York City (Madison Square Garden)
2007 - New York City (The Waldorf Astoria Hotel)

Stepping

2004 – Latino Step National Champions
2005 – LatinoStep National Champions

Notable Hermanos

Juan Pichardo – Rhode Island State Senator, District 2
Andres Irlando – Candidate for California Lieutenant Governor
Fernando Ferrer – Former Bronx borough president and New York City community activist
Piri Thomas – New York Times Best-selling author of "Down These Mean Streets"
Hector Rivera and Raymond Ramirez – Cofounders of the Political Activist Slam Poetry Team, The Welfare Poets
James De La Vega – Street artist and Community Activist from Spanish Harlem[
Ernesto Cuevas – Mural painter and community activist; Painted famous mural found at the Latin American Cultural House at Dartmouth College
John Hernandez - Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Ruben Jose King-Shaw - Chief Executive Officer of Mansa Equity Partners Inc
Arel Moodie- Best Selling Author of Your Starting Point For Student Success and nationally known as "America's Top Young Speaker"

Some Honorary Hermanos

Dr. Jaime Martinez-Tolentino Dr. Martinez-Tolentino holds a BA & MA in French from New York University, a Ph.D from the University of Madrid, a Ph. D from the University of Massachusetts, and a Ph. D from Purdue University in Spanish Literature and History. An expert on Latin American Literature, he is the author of fourteen books, ten of which are devoted to literary criticism or research in linguistics. He is also a creative writer with two books of published short stories and a play. He teaches courses on Latin American literature and culture and is fluent in five languages: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and German.

Luis Miranda
Former head of the Hispanic Federation also served as Special Advisor and the Director of the Mayor's Office for Hispanic Affairs during the Koch administration. During his distinguished career, Mr. Miranda has served as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, Teachers College at Columbia University and Boricua College, among other institutions.

Roberto Ramirez
Bronx Democratic County Chairman and New York State Assemblyman 78th A.D.; Assemblyman Ramirez has represented the Fordham/Tremont section of the northwest Bronx since 1990. Assemblyman Ramirez has distinguished himself as a legislative leader in the areas of health care, taxation, economic development, education and welfare reform. He is also Chairman of the NY State Assembly Social Services Committee and Chairman of the New York State Puerto Rican Hispanic Task force.

Juan Figueroa
Former Chairman of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund (PRLDEF); currently president of Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut and candidate for governor of Connecticut; Juan A. Figueroa has been a long-time champion of the Latino community tackling such issues as affirmative action and language rights. Mr. Figueroa served on the Connecticut General Assembly and was the first Puerto Rican State Representative from the Third District in Hartford.

Guillermo Linares
New York City Council Member, 10th District; Mr. Linares was first elected to the New York City Council in a special election in 1991, and was subsequently reelected, in 1993 to a full 4-year term. In January 1995, Linares was appointed to the White House Commission for educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.

Kaleil D. Isaza Tuzman
Former CEO and Co-founder of govWorks, Inc. KaleiI D. Isaza Tuzman was the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of govWorks, a start-up that is the focus of the documentary film Startup.com