UPDATED: April 3, 2011, 11:38 p.m.

This article originally incorrectly stated Lambda Upsilon Lambda was the first recognized Latino fraternity at Syracuse University. Sigma Iota was recognized at SU in 1913. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

As the Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity reaches its two-decade anniversary on the Syracuse University campus, its members are preparing for a celebration.

The fraternity focuses on meeting the needs of the Latino community through cultural awareness, community service and promotion of the Latino culture, according to the fraternity’s website.

Zhamyr Cueva, an SU alumnus and one of the founders of the chapter, said the fraternity continues to succeed in its mission to guide and motivate male Latino students, although it is still in its infancy at SU. Cueva said the chapter is both academic and service-oriented.

‘We’re building the platform for people to become mentors,’ Cueva said.

The chapter has planned a banquet to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which will commemorate the founders who paved the way for Latino groups to flourish on the SU campus, said Mark Medina, chapter vice president.

The banquet will be held April 30 at the Drumlins Country Club. All six founders will be in attendance, Medina said. The keynote presentation will feature poet and children’s book author Willie Perdomo. Silvio Torres-Saillant, director of the Latino-Latin American Studies program, will also speak at the event, according to the event’s Facebook page.

Cueva was a sophomore when plans to bring the fraternity to the university began in fall 1990.

‘We went to Cornell, where Lambda Upsilon Lambda was established,’ Cueva said. ‘We saw the brothers that were graduating and becoming mentors to new pledges.’

The first step to establishing the chapter was finding students interested in the fraternity with an adequate GPA, Cueva said. The six founders became brothers on April 27, 1991, according to the fraternity website.

Many Latino students from large cities felt lost when beginning college, so guidance and motivation from those who understood them were beneficial, Cueva said.

Cueva received his master’s degree at Columbia University after graduating from SU in 1993. He said the encouragement and support of his fraternity brothers influenced his decision to continue his schooling.

Since 1991, 50 male SU students have become members of the chapter, according to the Facebook page.

Medina, a junior communication and rhetorical studies major, was initiated in the spring 2010 semester, but he said he had friends in the fraternity before being recruited.

The chapter is small in numbers, but has a great support system, Medina said. He said the brothers are genuine people and care for one another’s well-being.

‘It’s more of a family thing,’ Medina said. ‘It doesn’t matter what year they’re from. They’re invested in what you’re doing.’

Armando Ramirez, an SU alumnus and LUL brother, is looking forward to meeting the new pledge class, reuniting with old brothers and seeing what has and hasn’t changed in Syracuse when he visits for the banquet.

Ramirez pledged during his sophomore year in fall 1993. He said the fraternity

volunteered often and served in a New York City soup kitchen every Thanksgiving. Some brothers also volunteered as translators at hospitals near campus, Ramirez said.

Carlos Velazquez, an SU alumnus and brother, is involved with the nonprofit East Harlem Tutorial program, Ramirez said. The nonprofit provides critical resources for high school students to graduate on time and prepare for college, according to the fraternity’s website. The fraternity’s support has provided laptops and scholarships, among other contributions, according to the website.

Ramirez remains close with his brothers and said a few live in New York City. In college, he didn’t search for a particular fraternity at first, but said the fraternity and its family-oriented environment was a natural choice.

Said Ramirez: ‘It was definitely one of the most educational, empowering experiences of my life.’

brvannos@syr.edu

Published on March 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Breanne: brvannos@syr.edu | @bre_vann