Latin by Tradition, Not Definition

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 23:01

The Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated is catering towards needs of women at the UA by to helping them find their niche in society.

"College can be very overwhelming; it's a big place and people can become lost very fast," said Sandra Banuett, President of the UA's Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated.

Lambda Theta Alpha was the first nationally recognized sorority that primarily dealt with Latina students in 1975 at Kean University. Since then, Lambda Theta Alpha has added nearly a hundred chapters throughout the United States.

"Latin by tradition, not [by] definition," was how Banuett described the sorority. "Nationally, there are 109 ethnicities and cultures who are involved with the group. It's not about being Latina, but it's about unity."

The interst group has been operating as an interest group at the UA since November 2008.  Ever since their inception, the members have hit the ground running. The group has helped paint bells for Ben's Bells in Tucson and helped raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.

"We work very hard for the community," said Melissa Gomez, recruitment chair for United Sorority and Fraternity Council at the UA, "We have had percentage nights, movie fundraiser events and, last November, we adopted a family for Christmas."

Though the Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated is titled like a sorority and goes to UA Greek Council meetings, they have yet to be recognized as an official sorority by either the UA or Lambda Theta Alpha's national charter.

"We are on our way to becoming a sorority based on unity, love and respect," said Banuett. "We are not yet a sorority because we need to do  community service and have good academic standing."

"We believe sororities unify us as women through working together. [This] makes us greater as a whole than we could ever be as individuals."

Even though they have yet to be recognized the group is attempting to become a sorority by meeting acedemic requirments.  All their members are required to have a 2.5 GPA. However, the group has been striving for 3.2 GPA. Additionally, any girl can be accepted as a member.

The Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated members are in the process of becoming a sorority but it is too early to tell when they will be recognized. For now they are striving towards bettering their organization.

Written by Allana Erickson You are reading Latin by Tradition, Not Definition articles