A quick Google search of “Multicultural Greek Life” brings up dozens of various Greek-letter organizations (GLOs), ranging from those that identify specifically as Multicultural, to African-American, Native American, South Asian, LGBT, and, of course, Latino. While each Greek-letter organization that falls under the “Multicultural” umbrella has its own unique history and reasons for establishment, there are no doubt certain similar milestones (or “growing pains” depending on your vantage point) that each organization has gone through or will go through.
Some Multicultural organizations have been around for over a century, while others have yet to reach their tenth anniversary. And then there’s Lambda Theta Phi, somewhere in the middle. In comparison to, say, African-American GLOs, we are a very young organization, just now hitting Greek-adolescence (and getting hair in places there’s never been hair before). But in comparison to many of our other Multicultural counterparts, we’re definitely some of the “older heads” on the yard.
I think most of our Brothers understand that, given our age, there are still many things about our organization that are going to change. I think saluting is a perfect microcosm of Lambda’s change through the years. A Brother from the 70s might have seen saluting in the 80s and thought, “what the heck is that?” A Brother from the 80s might have seen saluting in the 90s and thought, “what the heck is that?” A Brother from the 90s sees saluting today and might think, well, you probably get the idea.
I came to grips long ago that there are certain things about my beloved Fraternity that will change, some for the better, some maybe not (And I say this as someone that crossed in 2004, I can only imagine how Brothers from the 90s must feel.). But there’s one thing about Lambda Theta Phi that I hope never changes. It’s what first attracted me to Lambda, and it’s what still keeps me involved well after I’ve graduated (OK I only graduated six years ago, before true old school Bros say anything). I love Lambda Theta Phi because it’s a Latin Fraternity. Always has been, and (I hope) always will be.
So what exactly is our role as a Latino Fraternity? It’s not an easy answer. In fact, it’s a multifaceted role, if anything. We are servants to our campus communities, our communities outside of our respective campuses, and of course, servants to each other. But if I had to choose anything, it’s that last point that I’d feel most comfortable sticking with.
As an older Brother once told me: the best thing you can do for your community, and our Fraternity, is to graduate. And that right there sums everything up. We can put on the best programs on campus, mentor hundreds of students around the country, and donate thousands of dollars to those in need, all things we do (and should continue to do). But we must first support each other in reaching a goal that less than 10% of Latina/os in this country will achieve: obtaining a college degree. Our most important role as a Latino Fraternity, in my humble opinion, is to help promote education in our community. Beginning, but definitely not ending, with us.