Lambda Sigma Upsilon


Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Incorporated is a Latino oriented Greek letter intercollegiate fraternity founded on April 5, 1979 at Rutgers University–New Brunswick in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Lambda Sigma Upsilon has 78 active undergraduate chapters and 6 alumni chapters in universities and cities across the United States. The fraternity is a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference and a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.

History

The concept of forming Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. began in 1978. During the period of the mid to late 1970s protests and acts of civil disobedience became commonplace as students asserted their disappointment with Rutgers University, professors' tenure, national issues, and Latino student rights. The protest became so fervent they began closing down institutions and buildings, specifically the Livingston Library as well as Rutgers men's basketball games.
As the acts of civil disobedience continued, students began to meet and be acquainted with each other from the protests. Some students were particularly upset with the treatment of Latino student interests and issues. A small group of these students began to meet at the Livingston Student Center and discuss the formation of an organization that would help students meet their goals and provide a family away from home. As the discussion continued, more men began to join the conversation eventually the group reached 20 members. Most of these men had met, at some time or another, during the protests or acts of civil disobedience, and thus shared common interests in the need for taking action to bring about positive change.

Formation

In the spring of 1979, after speaking for a number of weeks, these 20 students suggested that the group form their own brotherhood, a Latino Social Fellowship. These men decided that a Social Fellowship would best provide support, focus, and family for the Latino community on college and university campuses. These men began to meet on a regular basis, holding their final meeting in Tillett Hall at Rutgers University, Livingston Campus on April 5, 1979, at which time Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Social Fellowship, Inc. was established. The official motto of the fellowship was "Latinos Siempre Unidos", thus the acronym "LSU". They effectively became the catalyst for change, and a vehicle for pertinent conversation regarding relevant issues between student and the university administration at Rutgers University.

Founding Fathers

The twenty founders of Lambda Sigma Upsilon are:
The 20 founders of LSU were men who believed that underrepresented groups, particularly ethnic minorities, at colleges and universities were not getting the attention or services needed to advance their academic successes. They created Lambda Sigma Upsilon to act as a support group for these groups, as well as to provide a family away from home. The founders developed four Goals that would embody the purpose of Lambda Sigma Upsilon. These goals are:
After the establishment of the Pioneros Chapter at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the brothers of this chapter saw certain difficulties in sustaining the chapter due to the organization's designation as a social fellowship. Not being designated "fraternity" disallowed them from participating in certain events as well as creating and hosting some of their own events and programs with the support of their institutions. They also saw the great difficulty in their ability to promote the organization as many special rights were given only to "Greek" organizations.
This eventually led to a debate within the organization surrounding the idea of changing the designation from "Social Fellowship" to "Fraternity". This debate centered on the idea of giving in to a "Greek" system that the founders of the organization originally sought to avoid. In the fall of 1987, a proposal was submitted by the brothers of Pioneros Chapter to the governing board of Lambda Sigma Upsilon. An organization-wide vote was held to change the designation and was passed, thus changing the official name of the organization to "Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity".

Affiliations

Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. is a Member of the National Greek council North American Interfraternity Conference. NIC is a confederation of 73 men's college fraternities with over 5,500 chapters on more than 800 campuses throughout Canada and the United States. The NIC represents over 350,000 collegiate members and four and a half million alumni. Its volunteer leaders and professional staff serve fraternity leaders in university, government, and media relations.
Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. is also a Member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. The purpose of NALFO is to promote and foster positive inter-fraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism, and education. Currently, NALFO consists of 19 different organizations.

National Chapters

Chapter NameCollege / UniversityCity, StateEstablished
1. Taino ChapterRutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, New JerseyEst. April 5, 1979
2. Azteca ChapterWilliam Paterson UniversityWayne, New JerseyEst. April 3, 1982
3. Zulu ChapterStockton UniversityGalloway Township, New JerseyEst. May 6, 1983
4. Monarca ChapterMontclair State UniversityMontclair, New JerseyEst. April 4, 1984
5. Pioneros ChapterNew Jersey Institute of Technology / Rutgers University–NewarkNewark, New JerseyEst. December 13, 1986
6. Emperadores ChapterKean UniversityUnion Township, Union County, New JerseyEst. December 15, 1990
7. Resistentes ChapterRamapo CollegeMahwah, New JerseyEst. April 18, 1991
8. Almirantes ChapterSeton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, New JerseyEst. April 18, 1991
9. Areyto ChapterNew Jersey City UniversityJersey City, New JerseyEst. November 28, 1993
10. Tikal ChapterBloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PennsylvaniaEst. April 2, 1995
11. Intocables ChapterBloomfield CollegeBloomfield, New JerseyEst. April 14, 1995
12. Diamante ChapterThe College of New JerseyEwing, New JerseyEst. December 11, 1997
13. Mexica ChapterPrinceton UniversityPrinceton, New JerseyEst. May 19, 1999
14. Ciguayo ChapterFairleigh Dickinson UniversityTeaneck, New JerseyEst. April 1, 2000
15. Andes ChapterSaint Peter's UniversityJersey City, New JerseyEst. July 21, 2000
16. Xaragua ChapterRowan UniversityGlassboro, New JerseyEst. November 14, 2000
17. Kogi ChapterUniversity of MiamiCoral Gables, FloridaEst. December 2, 2000
18. Aphrike ChapterMonmouth UniversityWest Long Branch, New JerseyEst. February 22, 2001
19. Cayuga ChapterLe Moyne CollegeSyracuse, New YorkEst. March 4, 2001
20. Czar ChapterUniversity of Central FloridaOrlando, FloridaEst. March 4, 2001
21. Jaguar ChapterLock Haven University of PennsylvaniaLock Haven, PennsylvaniaEst. March 16, 2002
22. Biaraku' ChapterC.W. Post Campus of Long Island University Brookville, New YorkEst. March 24h, 2002
23. Seneca ChapterVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VirginiaEst. April 6, 2002
24. Mohegan ChapterSacred Heart UniversityFairfield, ConnecticutEst. April 25, 2002
25. Tekesta ChapterFlorida Memorial UniversityMiami Gardens, FloridaEst. October 26, 2002
26. Kyodrowe ChapterUniversity at Buffalo / Buffalo State CollegeBuffalo, New YorkEst. November 9, 2002
27. Guarionex ChapterState University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz, New YorkEst. March 28, 2003
28. Cemi ChapterUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MissouriEst. April 4, 2003
29. Terra ChapterJohnson & Wales UniversityMiami, FloridaEst. April 7, 2003
30. Coba ChapterKutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PennsylvaniaEst. October 31, 2003
31. Abakua ChapterUniversity of BridgeportBridgeport, ConnecticutEst. November 20, 2003
32. Archias ChapterSyracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkEst. April 18, 2004
33. Trovadores ChapterState University of New York at Old WestburyOld Westbury, New YorkEst. April 18, 2004
34. Aztlan ChapterStephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TexasEst. March 26, 2005
35. Dakhil ChapterBinghamton UniversityVestal, New YorkEst. April 15, 2005
36. Qasid ChapterUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaEst. April 1, 2006
37. Niantic ChapterUniversity of Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode IslandEst. April 8, 2006
38. Orinoco ChapterRider UniversityLawrenceville, New JerseyEst. April 8, 2006
39. Zawadi ChapterUniversity of DelawareNewark, DelawareEst. April 8, 2006
40. Kahnianke ChapterState University of New York at OneontaOneonta, New YorkEst. April 15, 2006
41. Tenochtitlan ChapterUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulder, ColoradoEst. November 17, 2006
42. Aquila ChapterUniversity at Albany, SUNYAlbany, New YorkEst. December 1, 2007
43. Yucatán ChapterColorado School of MinesGolden, ColoradoEst. March 22, 2008
44. Copan ChapterMillersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PennsylvaniaEst. April 11, 2008
45. Yukayeke ChapterSouthern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, ConnecticutEst. April 26, 2008
46. Badachu ChapterBaruch CollegeNew York City Metro ChapterEst. May 1, 2008
47. Marabou ChapterLynn UniversityBoca Raton, FloridaEst. August 1, 2008
48. Qing ChapterFlorida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FloridaEst. November 25, 2008
49. Uman ChapterLehigh UniversityBethlehem, PennsylvaniaEst. April 18, 2009
50. Onyota ChapterUtica CollegeUtica, New YorkEst. April 18, 2009
51. Serikon ChapterUniversity of South FloridaTampa, FloridaEst. April 25, 2009
52. Kalinago ChapterBarry UniversityMiami Shores, FloridaEst. April 29, 2009
53. Elysium ChapterGeorgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, GeorgiaEst. April 16, 2010
54. Alkimia ChapterRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, New YorkEst. April 24, 2010
55. Lipan ChapterColorado State UniversityFort Collins, ColoradoEst. April 24, 2010
56. Wahati ChapterArizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaEst. May 14, 2010
57. Najem ChapterSt. John's UniversityQueens, New YorkEst. November 10, 2010
58. Seiryuu ChapterState University of New York at OswegoOswego, New YorkEst. April 10, 2011
59. Zikhari ChapterPennsylvania State University State College, PennsylvaniaEst. April 22, 2011
60. Pantheon ChapterAbraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GeorgiaEst. October 27, 2012
61. Elegua ChapterDePauw UniversityGreencastle, IndianaEst. November 10, 2012
62. Arcani ChapterUniversity of Northern ColoradoGreeley, ColoradoEst. November 26, 2012
63. Bajamaku ChapterWheelock CollegeBoston, MassachusettsEst. December 7, 2012
64. Maguana ChapterEast Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PennsylvaniaEst. November 8, 2013
65. Quirigua ChapterIndiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, PennsylvaniaEst. April 6, 2014
66. Equitatus ChapterState University of New York at PotsdamPotsdam, New YorkEst. November 1, 2014
67. Korones ChapterState University of New York College at CortlandCortland, New YorkEst. November 3, 2014
68. Himalayas ChapterEmory UniversityAtlanta, GeorgiaEst. November 18, 2016
69. Valhalla ChapterIndiana University BloomingtonBloomington, IndianaEst. April 7, 2017
70. Zumidas ChapterUniversity of Massachusetts DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MassachusettsEst. April 15, 2017
71. U'Wa ChapterLycoming CollegeWilliamsport, PennsylvaniaEst. April 7, 2018
72. Delos ChapterIona CollegeNew Rochelle, New YorkEst. April 13, 2018
73. Fukujin ChapterUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, North CarolinaEst. April 21, 2018
74. Taburasa ChapterThe College at Brockport, State University of New YorkBrockport, New YorkEst. November 16, 2018
75. Sacbe ChapterAppalachian State UniversityBoone, North CarolinaEst. April 7, 2019
76. Pángǔ ChapterVillanova UniversityVillanova, PennsylvaniaEst. April 12, 2019
77. Somali ChapterRutgers University–CamdenCamden, New JerseyEst. April 13, 2019
78. Waya ChapterRadford UniversityRadford, VirginiaEst. April 18, 2020
Coaybay ChapterReserved for Deceased Brothers--

Traditions

Since 1979, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. has been the first Latino fraternity to embrace the tradition of stepping. LSU believes stepping is historically and culturally relevant to Latinos by paying homage to their Indigenous and African ancestry. LSU's step teams have competed in various competitions across the nation and won the first-ever LatinoStep Summer Step Competition in 2002 and regained the title in 2008. LSU is also the first Latino-based fraternity to compete against the traditional Greek-lettered African American organization the Divine Nine.
LSU placed first in the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 Silk Stroll Championship and other nationwide stroll competitions.
From early on in the history of LSU, machetes have been incorporated in their step performances as they have special meaning and purpose to the fraternity. Although LSU's cultural identity symbol is the Taino, it has a consistent tradition of embracing and honoring indigenous peoples across the Americas and Africa such as the Aztecs, Zulu, Iroquois, Inca, Mohegan,and Mayans. The organization is commonly known as the most culturally diverse Latino fraternity in the nation.

Facts

Membership is open to all males enrolled at a college or university with or without an existing chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. Although a Latino fraternity, the word "Latino" is largely used to keep in sync with tradition. It is important to note Lambda Sigma Upsilon does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, marital status, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, parental status, or political affiliation.

Philanthropy

After the passing of one of their founding fathers, Alberto Rivera in June 1989, due to H.I.V. / A.I.D.S. complications, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity,Inc. has selected H.I.V. /A.I.D.S. research and awareness as its primary philanthropy. The Fraternity participates nationwide in the donation of funds, cause walks, and informational programs towards the goal of curing, and creating a vaccination for, the disease. Lambda Sigma Upsilon has worked with the following H.I.V. / A.I.D.S. related organizations
Although Lambda Sigma Upsilon holds H.I.V. /A.I.D.S. as its main philanthropy, many chapters take on chapter philanthropies in addition, and the organization also continues to participate in many volunteer and community service work geared specifically towards under-served communities. Some examples of the programs with which Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity,Inc. has participated are:
The Latinos Siempre Unidos Foundation is a 501 c non-profit foundation. It operates separately and independently of the fraternity. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide scholarships to Latinos, as well as other minorities, enrolled in high school or college who has shown a commitment to leadership and education. The Latinos Siempre Unidos foundation also endows surrounding neighborhoods and communities with new prospects to further learning by supporting fiscally and physically organizations, groups, clubs, associations, and companies who show values in line with those of The Latinos Siempre Unidos Foundation. All donations to the organization are tax deductible.