:Lambda Upsilon Lambda

{{Short description|American Latino interest collegiate fraternity}}

{{Infobox Fraternity

| name = Lambda Upsilon Lambda

| letters = {{lang|grc|ΛΥΛ}} - LUL

| crest = Lambda Upsilon Lambda crest.png

| image_size = 160px

| founded = {{start date and age|1982|02|19}}

| birthplace = Cornell University

| affiliation = NALFO

| status = Active

| type = Social fraternity

| scope = National

| emphasis = Cultural Interest - Latino

| motto = {{lang|es|La Unidad Para Siempre}}

| pillars = Academics, Brotherhood, Culture, and Service

| mission =

| symbol = File:Lul symbol official web.png

| nicknames = La Unidad Latina, LUL, Lambdas, Elite Lambdas

| colors = {{color box|#653819}} Brown, {{color box|#EEAA00}} Gold, {{color box|#FFFFFF}} White, and {{color box|#CC0000}} Red

| philanthropy = P.A.T.H.E. Initiative

| chapters = 98

| members =

| lifetime = 3,000+

| address = 511 Sixth Avenue, PMB #39

| city = New York City

| state = New York

| ZIP code = 10011

| country = United States

| homepage = {{url|www.launidadlatina.org}}

}}

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. ({{lang|grc|ΛΥΛ}} or LUL) is a Latino and multicultural interest collegiate fraternity. It was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on February 19, 1982,{{cite web|url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/history/story/|title=The Story of LUL | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc|date=1982-02-19|website=Launidadlatina.org|access-date=2016-10-26}} and has 81 active undergraduate chapters{{cite web|url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/membership/chapters/undergraduate-chapters/|title=Undergraduate Chapters | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc|date=2014-06-20|website=Launidadlatina.org|access-date=2016-10-26}} and seventeen graduate alumni professional chapters in universities and cities across the United States.{{cite web |date=2014-06-20 |title=Professional Chapters | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc |url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/membership/chapters/professional-chapters/ |access-date=2016-10-26 |website=Launidadlatina.org}}

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated is the only Latino and multicultural interest Greek-lettered organization to be chartered at all eight Ivy League universities.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-16 |title=Lambda Facts |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/lambda-facts/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |language=en-US}} While founded on Latino principles, Lambda Upsilon Lambda has been open to men of all races since its inception.{{cite web|url=https://www.reflectionsoralhistory.com/latinx-history-at-uva/lul|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415161110/https://www.reflectionsoralhistory.com/latinx-history-at-uva/lul|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 15, 2022|title = LUL|website=Reflectionsoralhistory.com|access-date=2022-06-28}} The fraternity is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) and is its third oldest fraternal member by founding date. It also has the second longest-running continuously active status at the collegiate level for the association and was the first active Latino interest fraternity at its time to become incorporated at the national level in 1988.{{cite web|url=https://uofi.app.box.com/v/founding-chronological|title=Box|website=uofi.app.box.com|access-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/97371|title=Buffalonian 1994|first=State University of New York at|last=Buffalo|date=December 2, 1994|website=Buffalonian (RG 9-6-00-2)|accessdate= December 2, 2024}}

History

=Origins=

The fraternity was founded alongside other members of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations during the post-1975 wave of the Latino Greek Movement which followed the "principio" (principle) phase kickstarted by student activism on college campuses in 1898.{{cite web|access-date=April 10, 2022|author=Oliver Fajardo|title=History of Latino Fraternal Movement and Why it Matters on Campus Today|url=https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.afa1976.org/resource/collection/ABDB5914-1754-4B8A-A477-DD4130EA781E/Farjardo_April_2015_-_Researcher.pdf|website=Cdn.ymaws.com}} In the 1980s, the "fuerza" (force) phase of Greek-lettered Latino organizations began as the result of Latino students feeling they had to urgently create systems where their voices could be heard and where they could help increase in the amount of Latinos enrolled in institutions nationwide.{{cite journal|url=https://meridian.allenpress.com/jollas/article-abstract/5/2/113/82334/The-Influence-of-Latina-o-Greek-Sorority-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext|doi=10.18085/llas.5.2.y1113g2572x13061|title=The Influence of Latina/o Greek Sorority and Fraternity Involvement on Latina/o College Student Transition and Success|year=2013|last1=Moreno|first1=Diana|last2=Banuelos|first2=Sheila|journal=Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies|volume=5|issue=2|pages=113–125|access-date=2022-06-28|url-access=subscription}} This being a primary focus of social justice activists within the community at the time as a result of the stagnant growth of Latino student enrollment during the 1980s and early 1990s.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-20-mn-508-story.html|title=More Blacks Go to College; Rate for Latinos Falls : Education: Total of minorities on campus grows, but the gap with whites closes only slightly, a study will show today|website=Los Angeles Times|date=20 January 1992|access-date=2022-06-28}}

=Establishment=

In the summer of 1981, Lambda Upsilon Lambda started as an idea of eleven Latino students at Cornell University, who felt the need for more brotherhood, unity, and cultural expression of their Latino heritage on campus. Founding father Hernando Londoño, who was the main pioneer among the founding line of the Latino Greek organization, argued to his peers that Latino students at Cornell only had the choice between traditionally white or historically black fraternities.{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/999865| title=Nuestra Historia y Futuro (Our History and Future): Latino/A Fraternities and Sororities|journal=Brothers and Sisters: Diversity In... |date=January 2009|last1=Muñoz|first1=Susana|access-date=2022-06-28}} Additionally, he believed that the other Latino groups on campus were not able to create a big enough sense of unity among the community there; he wanted to create an organization that would create Latino leaders who would make establishing a sense of unity among the Latino community their highest priority.

In the fall semester of 1981, after four meetings between Londoño and his fellow Latino students, it was decided to name their club "La Unidad Latina". It was then subsequently registered with the university on September 15, 1981. This club would set the foundation for discussions to create a Latino fraternity on campus. In January 1982, the fraternity was officially registered with the Cornell administration.

On February 19, 1982, an official initiation ceremony took place, with the eleven undergraduates and two additional faculty members inducting themselves as the Alpha line of the Alpha chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, and referring to themselves as the Founding Fathers.{{cite web|url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/history/story/|title = The Story of LUL {{!}} La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|website=Launidadlatina.org|date=16 October 2012|access-date=2022-06-28}} The thirteen founders are: William Barba, Dennis De Jesus, Hernando Londoño, Jesse Luis, Samuel Ramos, Tomas Rincon, Edwin Rivera, Mario Rivera, Victor Rodriguez, Victor Silva, Jose Torres, Henry Villareal, and James Otto "Jim" Ziebell.{{Cite news |title=Founding Fathers |language=en-US |website=Launidadlatina.org |url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/history/founding-fathers/#.WvJ3zdPwau5 |access-date=2018-05-09}} The fraternity later added an additional honorary father, Angel Montañez.

Like other founding lines for Latino Greek-lettered organizations during the "fuerza" era, the founding fathers modeled their probate ceremony after the Greek-lettered organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council like Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uscedu/docs/usc_el_centro_s_latinx_resource_han|title=Latinx Resource Handbook 2018-19 14th Edition by University of Southern California - Issuu|website=issuu.com|access-date=2022-06-28}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHLySACMxdcC&dq=national+association+of+latino+fraternal+organizations&pg=PA183|isbn=9780838639771|title=Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities| year=2003|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press|access-date=2022-06-28}} The organization's establishment at Cornell University made it the first Latino-based fraternity to be chartered at an Ivy League institution and the third oldest to be active at the time at the collegiate level.

=20th century and NALFO =

Throughout the rest of the 1980s, the fraternity expanded into eight different campuses located across the North-Eastern states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The first institutions it sought to expand to were those of the State University of New York system such as University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, and the now defunct Kayne College in 1985.{{Cite web|url=https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/97363|title=Buffalonian 1985-86|first=State University of New York at|last=Buffalo|date= 1986|website=Buffalonian (RG 9-6-00-2)|accessdate=December 2, 2024}}

In 1986, the fraternity briefly considered becoming co-ed as the founding line of the Beta chapter at Binghamton University included two women, Carol Lasso and Vanina Gonzalez.{{cite web|url=https://www.lulboldbeta.org/history.html|title=History - Bold Beta - la Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc|access-date=2022-06-28}} After much debate, the fraternity's members decided to keep Lambda Upsilon Lambda from that moment on, exclusive, to those who identified as male. As a result, the Beta chapter and its female members came up with the concept of a Latina sorority that would be able to unite the community's women on campus. In December 1987, Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, became the first Latina sorority on campus. {{cite web|url=https://sigmalambdaupsilon.org/our-hermandad/history/|title=History|access-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2004/11/19/slu-pledges-undergo-an-intense-initiation-process/|title=SLU pledges undergo an intense initiation process|first=Hillary|last=August|date=November 19, 2004|website=Yale Daily News|accessdate=February 11, 2025}}

In 1988, the Alpha chapters of both Lambda Upsilon Lambda and Alpha Phi Alpha, and the student organization La Asociacion Latina contributed significantly to the establishment of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority at their founding institution of Cornell University. This was the first Latina-focused sorority to be founded at an Ivy-league institution.{{cite web|url=https://www.lambdapichi.org/page/history|title = History of Lambda Pi Chi|website=www.lambdapichi.org|access-date=2022-07-27}} That same year, a colony of the fraternity established at the University at Buffalo in 1985, for undisclosed reasons, had various of its members secede from the rest of the fraternity and establish Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon fraternity.{{Cite web|url=https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/97369|title=Buffalonian 1992|first=State University of New York at|last=Buffalo|date= 1992|website=Buffalonian (RG 9-6-00-2)|accessdate=December 2, 2024}} Despite this, Lambda Upsilon Lambda was could go on to become the first Latino interest fraternity to be incorporated at the national level later that year after the establishment of its Delta chapter in the state of Pennsylvania.

Throughout the 1990s, during the fragmentation phase of the Latino Greek Movement (which saw the creation and major expansion of many Latina Greek organizations), the fraternity was chartered at an additional 35 campuses across nine states and Washington, D.C. It also joined the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations in September 1999 and became the second East Coast fraternity, after Lambda Alpha Upsilon, to join the majority West Coast and Mid-West conference instead of the majority East Coast ConcÌlio Nacional de Hermandades Latinas.{{cite web |title=Member Organizations – National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations |url=http://nalfo.org/member-organizations/ |access-date=2022-06-28}}

In 1999, Lambda Upsilon Lambda co-hosted a presentation by Ricardo Jiménez of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña at the University of Pennsylvania shortly after he and other members of the organization were given clemency by President Bill Clinton.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedp.com/article/1999/12/recently_released_faln_terrorist_speaks_at_penn|title=Recently released FALN terrorist speaks at Penn|access-date=2022-06-28}} His presentation primarily focused on the topic of Puerto Rican colonialism.

=21st century =

Throughout the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, in the current adelante (moving forward) phase of Latino Greek organizations, the fraternity expanded to more than thirty campuses in eleven states. Lambda Upsilon Lambda has increased its presence across the southeastern United States,{{Cite web|url=https://floridalambdas1982.wixsite.com/florida-region|title=Florida Region of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. | LUL Florida|website=Florida Region|accessdate=2025-03-04}} with it being the first Latino fraternity chartered on many campuses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/news/durham/latinx-students-at-duke-are-making-demands-of-the-administration/|title=Latinx Students at Duke Are Making Demands of the Administration for Representation, Acknowledgement, and Respect|website=Indyweek.com|date=2 March 2022|access-date=2022-06-28}} It also established chapters in the southwest, with multiple chapters in Texas and California.{{cite web|url=https://lulcalifornia.org/about-us|title=Who We Are|access-date=2022-06-28}}

In 2006, the James Madison University chapter hosted speaker Jaime Escalante, the subject of the 1988 film Stand and Deliver which was based on his work in the Los Angeles educational system.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/lulao-jaime-escalante-at-jmu-2006|title=The Alpha Omicron Chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda with Jaime Escalante at James Madison University in 2006|first=Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity|last=The Alpha Omicron Chapter of La Unidad Latina|date=December 20, 2020|via=Internet Archive|access-date=2022-06-28}}

In May 2018, the fraternity closed its Epsilon chapter on the campuses of the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College for undisclosed reasons, although this decision was later reversed in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/press-release/closure-of-epsilon-chapter/|title=Closure of Epsilon Chapter | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|date=May 6, 2018|access-date=2022-06-28}}

On August 1, 2020, the seventh of the founding fathers of the fraternity, Edwin Rivera, died unexpectedly at the age of 59.{{Cite web|url=https://en.elmensajerorochester.com/news/edwin-a-rivera-59-served-on-ibero-board-was-mentor-to-many/|title=Edwin A. Rivera, 59; served on Ibero board, was mentor to many|date=August 10, 2020|website=El Mensajero Católico|access-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/press-release/remembering-founding-father-edwin-rivera/|title=Remembering, Founding Father Edwin Rivera | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|first=Luis|last=Acevedo|date=August 13, 2020|access-date=2022-06-28}} On June 25, 2022, the 13th Founding Father of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, James Otto "Jim" Ziebell, died at the age of 67.{{Cite web|url=https://obits.cremationsocietyofphiladelphia.com/james-ziebell|title=James Otto Ziebell Obituary 2022|website=Cremation Society of Philadelphia|access-date=2022-08-31}}

Symbols

Lambda Upsilon Lambda's motto is La Unidad Para Siempre. The four pillars of Lambda Upsilon Lambda are to promote leadership are academics, brotherhood, culture, and service{{cite web |title=Our Pillars |url=https://www.lulphi.org/our-pillars |access-date=2022-06-28}}

Its colors are brown and gold, with secondary colors being white and red.{{Cite web |title=La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. » FSA » Illinois |url=https://fsaffairs.illinois.edu/organizations/fraternities/LambdaUpsilonLambda/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=fsaffairs.illinois.edu}}{{Cite web |title=Brand Guideline |url=https://launidadlatina.wixsite.com/lulbrandbook/guideline |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=La Unidad Latina |language=en}} These four colors are incorporated into the four quadrants of the fraternal crest. In the center of the Lambda Upsilon Lambda's crest, the mascot of the fraternity is featured on a shield. On the brown top-left quadrant, a scroll with an image of Latin America is shown. The gold top-right quadrant includes a red phrygian cap on top of caduceus with two hands shaking out of clouds in the center. In the white bottom-right quadrant, a sun with thirteen rays is shown above a mountain range in the backdrop of a Mesoamerican pyramid. The red bottom-left quadrant features two crossed swords behind a ribbon banner with the year 1982 on it and a hanging key pendant.{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Crest | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/gala2017/attachment/unnamed-4/ |access-date=2022-06-28}}

The fraternal crest has had six different versions since 1982.{{cite web |title=La Unidad Latina | Brand Guideline |url=https://launidadlatina.wixsite.com/lulbrandbook/guideline |access-date=2022-06-28}} The first version was a crudely hand drawn black and white crest that was used in the 1980s. The second version had a different art style and color scheme compared to the contemporary crest, with additional elements such as thirteen sets of knight's armor on the top of the crest and an additional large ribbon banner containing the fraternity's name. The third and fourth versions of Lambda Upsilon Lambda's fraternal crest abandoned the previous art style of the second version to crests more resembling that of the contemporary version. The fifth version of the crest is almost identical to its current version, with the only difference in the latter being that the bottom-left quadrant's ribbon banner featured the fraternity's motto La Unidad Para Siempre on it instead of its founding year.

Lambda Upsilon Lambda's fraternal symbol is the "T-Man" which is featured throughout the iconography of the fraternity.{{Cite web|url=https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/copy-of-brown-lul-crest-pajama-pants-1|title=Brown LUL T-Man Pajama Pants – Exclusive Apparel by Edison|date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421004737/https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/copy-of-brown-lul-crest-pajama-pants-1 |access-date=2023-05-07|archive-date=2023-04-21 }}{{Cite web|url=https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/lul-gold-flag-t-man-on-left-horizontal|title=LUL Gold Flag T-Man on Left (Horizontal) – Exclusive Apparel by Edison|date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421003929/https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/lul-gold-flag-t-man-on-left-horizontal |archive-date=2023-04-21 }} The fraternity has two distinct versions of the fraternal symbol which are utilized throughout the organization, one being the more widely used "T-Man" that is used in official merchandise and a majority of their marketing, and another iteration that is used in paraphernalia by members of the organization and within marketing in a more limited form.{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEmJaduRmW/|title=LUL Halloween Post 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105080929/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.instagram.com/p/CzEmJaduRmW/ |accessdate=November 5, 2023|archive-date=2023-11-05 }}{{Cite web|url=https://hotcore.info/babki/la-unidad-latina-phi-chapter-delta.html|title=Lambda Express Vol 1 & LUL Collection|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106041505/https://hotcore.info/babki/la-unidad-latina-phi-chapter-delta.html |accessdate=November 5, 2023|archive-date=2023-11-06 }}{{Cite web|url=https://chicagolambdas.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/4/6/12465168/1343881471.jpg|title=Chicago Lambdas Website Asset|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105081446/https://chicagolambdas.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/4/6/12465168/1343881471.jpg |accessdate=November 5, 2023|archive-date=2023-11-05 }}

The fraternity's nickname is "Lambdas". Individuals who are initiated are called "Caballeros", a gentlemen or knight in Spanish.

=Ceremonies=

In July 2022, the fraternity introduced a new ceremonial ritual called La Despedida to induct deceased members into the honorary Pi Sigma chapter at funerals.{{Cite web|url=https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/la-despedida-armband|title="La Despedida" Armband – Exclusive Apparel by Edison|date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421004913/https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/la-despedida-armband |archive-date=2023-04-21 }} The ceremony was created by three members of the organization (Hermano TJ Carrizales of the Alpha chapter, Hermano George Laws Garcia of the Alpha Zeta chapter, and Hermano John Villalobos of the Alpha Epsilon chapter) and features the usage of a red ceremonial armband with a white version of the "T-Man" fraternal symbol, which was created by Hermano Edison Lascano of the Beta chapter.{{Cite web|url=https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/lul-gold-flag-t-man-on-top-horizontal|title=LUL Gold Flag T-Man on Top (Horizontal) – Exclusive Apparel by Edison|date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421004029/https://exclusiveapparelbyedison.com/products/lul-gold-flag-t-man-on-top-horizontal |archive-date=2023-04-21 }}

Membership

Lambda Upsilon Lambda's membership is predominantly Latino and Hispanic American in composition. Members are predominately from the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Members refer to each other as Hermanos (translated as brother in the Spanish language). Those undergoing the new membership education process are referred to as Caballeros (translated as gentlemen or knight in Spanish).{{Cite web|url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/lambda-facts/|title=Lambda Facts | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|date=October 16, 2012|access-date=2022-06-28}}

There are three ways to obtain membership within the fraternity: through an undergraduate chapter, through an alumni professional chapter, or receiving honorary status. Undergraduate and alumni professional chapters have separate academic requirements and prerequisites for membership. Honorary membership is decided annually by the organization's legislative group.{{Cite news|url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/membership/interested-men/faqs/#.WvKZx9Pwau4|title=Eligibility & FAQs|website=Launidadlatina.org|access-date=2018-05-09|language=en-US}}

Members of the fraternity have access to a variety of different social and professional programs within the organization such LUL Out, which provides a supportive network to Hermanos who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, Lambdas Who Roll, which helps promote development opportunities for members to live a more active lifestyle through the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the Lambda Guilds, which are eight professional guilds within the organization that provide resources to Hermanos within different fields.{{Cite web|url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/alumni/lambdaguilds/|title=Lambda Guilds 2020 | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=2022-07-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://dailycampus.com/2020/10/16/the-rainbow-center-and-lul-recognize-bipoc-in-lgbtqia-history/|title=The Rainbow Center and LUL recognize BIPOC in LGBTQIA+ history|first=Khira|last=Francis|date=October 16, 2020|website=The Daily Campus|access-date=2025-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://dailycampus.com/2015/11/17/2015-11-17-la-unidad-latina-breaks-gender-binary-at-rainbow-center-event/|title=La Unidad Latina breaks gender binary at Rainbow Center event|first=The Daily|last=Campus|date=November 17, 2015|website=The Daily Campus|access-date=2025-02-11}}

Activities

The mission of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. is to seek a leadership role in meeting the needs of the Latino community through academic achievement, cultural awareness, community service, and promotion of the Latino culture and people.{{Cite news |title=Mission |language=en-US |website=Launidadlatina.org |url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/mission/#.WvJy-NPwau4 |access-date=2018-05-09}} Specifically, the fraternity seeks to meet this mission through:

  • Providing Latino students with the academic, cultural, and social support necessary to excel in institutions of higher learning
  • Increasing opportunities for Latino children and adolescents to achieve in elementary and secondary schools
  • Developing leaders that shall provide, develop and implement the tools for community empowerment
  • Inspiring ethnic pride and cultural awareness in the Latino community
  • Supporting the efforts to enhance the growth and well-being of the Latino community
  • Collaborating with individuals, organizations, and institutions that will join our efforts to improve the conditions of the Latino community.

=Philanthropy – P.A.T.H.E =

The goal of Lambda Upsilon Lambda's philanthropy, The P.A.T.H.E. Initiative (Providing Access To Higher Education), is to support middle school and high school students in their quest to graduate from a four-year college and beyond. The program supports local schools and organizations by mentoring future scholars, facilitating college and university tours, providing P.A.T.H.E. initiative workshops, and advocating for the improvement of the educational system. Through the P.A.T.H.E. initiative, Lambda Upsilon Lambda provides future scholars with the social, educational, and emotional support needed to reach these goals.{{Cite news |title=P.A.T.H.E. Initiative |language=en-US |website=Launidadlatina.org |url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/service/pathe-initiative/#.WYf-nNPyuu4 |access-date=2017-08-07}} Nationwide, a portion of the organization's chapters allocate and provide for local scholarships to either current or prospective college students, with much of the fundraising being through fraternity-specific banquets like "Noche de Oro" or collaborative social events like "The Official Four Way: World Tour" with other fraternal Greek-lettered organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha, Iota Nu Delta, and Pi Delta Psi.{{cite web |date=23 August 2021 |title=Latinx Sororities and Fraternities You Should Keep on Your Radar |url=https://belatina.com/latinx-sororities-and-fraternities-keep-on-your-radar/|access-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://myfraternitylife.org/2024/04/24/lambda-upsilon-lambda-holds-annual-banquet/|title=Lambda Upsilon Lambda holds annual banquet|first=myFraternity|last=Staff|date=April 24, 2024|accessdate=December 12, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycpdpsi.com:80/Files/Winter2005Newsletter.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060127012547/http://www.nycpdpsi.com:80/Files/Winter2005Newsletter.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-01-27|title=The Dragon - Winter 2005|first=Pi Delta Psi|last=Brother|date=1 December 2006|accessdate=December 12, 2024}}

=National performance team=

The fraternity has two national performance teams called New Age Stroll - Team (NAS-T) and Rated L - National Step Team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/lul_nast/|title=NAS-T|website=Instagram|access-date=2024-08-10}} They participates in various traditional step and stroll shows such as the annual NALFO showcase and other regional tournaments.{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2013/07/31/recap-risc-national-stepstroll-championship/|title=Recap: RISC National Step/Stroll Championship|access-date=2024-08-10}}

= La Unidad Latina Foundation =

The La Unidad Latina Foundation (LULF) was established in 1999 as a platform for a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to academic excellence and leadership in the Latino community.{{Cite web |last=Casado |first=Julio |title=LULF - La Unidad Latina Foundation |url=https://www.lulf.org/#navigation |access-date=2018-05-09 |website=Lulf.org |language=en}} LULF is a branch of the fraternity and is operated by active alumni members. LULF awards educational scholarships ranging from $200 to $1,000 to Latino/Hispanic undergraduate students that meet moderate requirements.

In May 2012, LULF made news headlines after raising over $125,000 in support of a member of the organization who saw the loss of seven immediate family members in a fatal car accident.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2012 |title=Bronx Zoo Crash Spurs Donations to Help Family Bury 7 | Fox News Latino |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/05/01/bronx-zoo-crash-spurs-donations-to-help-family-bury-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701193929/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/05/01/bronx-zoo-crash-spurs-donations-to-help-family-bury-7 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Fox News}}{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Support Jonel Gonzalez |url=http://www.supportjonel.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618222208/http://www.supportjonel.com/ |archive-date=18 June 2012 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Fox News}} The fraternity exceeded its goal of $100,000 and composed the fraternal song "The City of Gold" in honor of the respective Hermano and his family.{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Lambda Brother Jonel Gonzalez Loses Seven In Crash; Donation Campaign Raises $125,000 | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/press-release/lambda-upsilon-lambda-brother-jonel-gonzalez-loses-seven-relatives-in-crash-national-donation-campaign-raises-125000-for-grieving-family/ |access-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web |last=La Unidad Latina |first=Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity |date=May 2, 2012 |title=La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. - "City Of Gold" Lyric Video |url=http://archive.org/details/lambda-upsilon-lambda-city-of-gold |access-date=2022-06-28 |via=Internet Archive}}

= Dates of celebration =

  • February 19 – Founder's Day{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=George |date=January 26, 2019 |title=Founders' Day: LUL's 37th Anniversary | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/event/founders-day-luls-37th-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-06-28}}
  • 2nd Sunday of June – Puerto Rican Day Parade{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2013 |title=2011 Puerto Rican Day Parade | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/gallery/2011-puerto-rican-day-parade/ |access-date=2022-06-28}}
  • September 15 – October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month{{Cite web |title=Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month | Diversity and Inclusion |url=https://www.njit.edu/diversityprograms/hispaniclatinx-heritage-month |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=www.njit.edu}}

Chapters

{{main|List of Lambda Upsilon Lambda chapters}}

File:Administrative Regions of La Unidad Latina Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Incorporated.png

The fraternity has 81 undergraduate chapters and 17 graduate alumni professional chapters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lul/chaptersframe.htm|title=Chapters of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|website=Columbia.edu|access-date=March 29, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/press-release/closure-of-epsilon-chapter/#.YkKbJufMK5c|title=Closure of the Epsilon Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.|website=Launidadlatina.org|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=March 29, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://uofi.app.box.com/v/mens-pdf-folder/file/459825170612|title=Box|website=uofi.app.box.com|access-date=2022-06-28}} Lambda Upsilon Lambda has the honorary Pi Sigma chapter reserved for deceased members of the fraternity.

The chapters are divided nationally into twelve administrative regions across the United States:{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2013 |title=National Leadership | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/leadership/national-leadership/ |access-date=2022-07-27}}

  • California
  • Capital
  • DMV
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Midwest
  • New England
  • New Jersey/Pennsylvania
  • New York metropolitan area
  • North Carolina
  • Texas
  • Western New York

Governance

= National Council and board =

Lambda Upsilon Lambda has two national governing bodies that oversee different aspects of administration to help it continue to grow throughout the United States. The first is the board of directors which is tasked with alumni development, fund-raising, and strategic planning. It is made up of eleven members, including the National Council president, the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, and eight additional directors.{{Cite web |date=December 24, 2012 |title=Board of Directors | La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/leadership/board-of-directors/}}

The second governing body of Lambda Upsilon Lambda is the National Council, which is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization, such as chapter management and expansion. It is made up of sixteen members, including the National Council president, comptroller, three departmental officers, and eleven regional vice presidents.

Additional planning for the organization is also done during conferences held within the fraternity's annual national conventions.{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2013 |title=National Convention; La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=https://www.launidadlatina.org/event/national-convention/#.YuG_-XbMK5c |access-date=2022-07-27}}

Notable members

= Traditional =

  • Fernando Ferrerborough president of The Bronx from 1987 to 2001{{cite news |last=Lynn |first=Frank |date=March 12, 1987 |title=Bronx Chief Quits and Friedman Gets 12-year Sentence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/12/nyregion/bronx-chief-quits-and-friedman-gets-12-year-sentence.html |access-date=2022-03-31 |newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite web |title=Lambda Facts {{!}} La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. |url=http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/lambda-facts/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609044736/http://www.launidadlatina.org/about-lul/lambda-facts/ |archive-date=2021-06-09 |access-date=2022-06-28}}
  • Eric GonzalezBrooklyn District Attorney{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Annie |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Recognizing Current Latinx Members in County Leaders |url=https://www.leadershipconnect.io/state-local-government/recognizing-current-latinx-members-in-county-leaders/ |accessdate=June 9, 2024}}
  • Manuel Natal Albelo – former member of the 29th House of Representatives of Puerto Rico{{cite web |date=2013-08-15 |title=Manuel Natal, el legislador más joven de la historia |url=http://video.univision.mobi/entry/view/id/1976044#entry/view/id/1976044 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325203151/http://video.univision.mobi/entry/view/id/1976044#entry/view/id/1976044 |archive-date=2014-03-25 |access-date=2022-06-28 |publisher=Univision Puerto Rico |language=es}}
  • Eduardo Peñalver – president of Seattle University and 16th dean of Cornell Law School
  • Xavier A. Gutierrez - first Latino team president and CEO in the history of the National Hockey League{{Cite web|url=https://hispanicexecutive.com/xavier-a-gutierrez-arizona-coyotes/|title=Xavier A. Gutierrez Is Leading the Pack|first=Zach|last=Baliva|date=October 29, 2021|website=Hispanic Executive}}

= Honorary =

  • Juan FigueroaConnecticut General Assembly, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Jan |date=2000-05-09 |title=PUBLIC LIVES - PUBLIC LIVES - Memories of Paradise (Plus a Few Bombs) - Biography |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/09/nyregion/public-lives-memories-of-paradise-plus-a-few-bombs.html?pagewanted=1 |access-date=2022-03-31 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=Vieques (Puerto Rico); Puerto Rico}}
  • Jaime Martínez Tolentino – author of various Latin American literary works{{cite web |year=2000 |title=Martinez-Tolentino v. Buffalo State College |url=http://www.peo7.com/peo/caselawDetail53776.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070420230605/http://www.peo7.com/peo/caselawDetail53776.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2007 |access-date=2022-03-31 |publisher=Professional Employer Organization and Employee Leasing}}
  • Guillermo Linares – former Democratic member of the New York State Assembly{{cite web |title=Biography of Assemblymember Guillermo Linares |url=http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Guillermo-Linares/bio/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105120803/http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Guillermo-Linares/bio/ |archive-date=5 January 2015 |access-date=2022-06-28 |publisher=New York State Assembly |df=dmy-all}}
  • Luis A. Miranda Jr. – special advisor for Hispanic Affairs to the New York City Mayor Ed Koch from 1987 to 1989{{Cite web |title=Luis Miranda |url=https://www.staffershow.com/episodes/luis-miranda/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Staffershow.com}}
  • Roberto Ramirez – former member of the New York State Assembly{{cite news |last=Clifford |first=Levy |date=October 7, 2001 |title=As Ferrer's Gray Eminence, Roberto Ramirez Is a Force, and a Potential Power Broker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/07/nyregion/ferrer-s-gray-eminence-roberto-ramirez-force-potential-power-broker.html |access-date=2022-03-31 |newspaper=The New York Times}}
  • Piri Thomas – author of the memoir Down These Mean Streets{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Joseph |date=October 19, 2011 |title=Piri Thomas, Spanish Harlem Author, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/books/piri-thomas-author-of-down-these-mean-streets-dies.html?_r=1 |access-date=2022-03-31 |newspaper=The New York Times}}
  • Kaleil Isaza Tuzman – former digital media entrepreneur

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External Links