The Red and Black

-(Right to Left) Giovanny Aponte, Jheison Romain, Israel Linares, Husain Plumber and Giovanni Vajello, founding members of the University's chapter of the Latino fraternity Lambda Sigma Upsilon, pose for a portrait by the arch Monday afternoon. Romain s [Click to enlarge]

As members of the Latino community marched through cities around the nation this month, five University students began to promote the University's first Latino fraternity.

The University chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon was established early this month, making it the first chapter of the nationally recognized fraternity in the state of Georgia.

Giovanni Vallejo serves as the chapter's first president and said the overall goal of the organization is to promote unity among Latinos and minorities, with its motto stating "Latinos Siempre Unidos" - or "Latinos Always United."

Although the fraternity was established at Rutgers in 1979 to represent its Latino students, Vallejo said LSU isn't just for Latinos.

"We would like to be known as a culturally diverse organization," he said. "We welcome any nationality."

The five members of the fraternity exemplify diversity; each is from or has parents from at least one of eight different countries ranging from Mexico to Peru, Haiti and India.

Vallejo said some students attending the University may not find an organization that represents their culture and heritage.

LSU members want to make students of various backgrounds feel welcome at the University.

"A lot of students won't come to school here because of the lack of diversity, and this just perpetuates the lack of diversity here," LSU member Giovanny Aponte said.

"We want to be role models for high school students to show them we do have a presence on campus," he said.

Recruiting minority students is a goal of not only LSU but also of the University and the Latina sorority Lambda Theta Alpha.

This year the University has held numerous events in an effort to discuss ways to enroll more minority students.

The Hispanic Student Association hosted "Sigueme" last fall, where Latino high school students shadowed Latino University students for a day in an attempt to encourage local Latinos to apply for admission.

Ashley Reagin, president of LTA, said she wanted to establish the Latina sorority last April to provide a support group for Latina women as they receive an education.

"It's good that the guys are now there to help recruit Latino students to the University," Reagin said.

Now with 12 members, LTA leaders said they want to support LSU as it emerges on campus.

Reagin said she wants to help the fledgling fraternity chapter through its first year but said that as with her sorority, it may be difficult for them to get their name out to.

Like LTA, members of the new LSU chapter are involved in the Latino community and hope to give it a positive image in spite of the media's recent portrayal of Latino immigrants.

LSU Vice President Jheison Romain is involved with the local Head Start program that supports single parents and their children.

"As a group of men, we want to be there as male role models and be a positive influence," he said. "We want to show that Latinos can be positive members of the community."

Members of LSU are holding an interest meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 19 in the Student Learning Center.

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