Fact Sheet

Contents

Interesting Facts
Mission Statement
General Information
Some Honorary Hermanos
Frequently Asked Questions

Interesting Facts

First Latino Fraternity to be chartered at an Ivy League Institution.
La Unidad Latina is a Latino based non-profit nonpartisan community service organization with a diverse membership.
Fraternal Chapters from Coast to Coast in the US.
Chapters at 7 out of the 8 Ivy League Universities, with Hermanos having attended all 8 Ivy League Institutions.
Chapters at 6 out of the Top 10 Universities, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2000 Best Colleges and Universities Edition.
Chapters at 16 out of the Top 50 Universities, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2000 Best Colleges and Universities Edition.
41 Chapters at 45 Universities
10 Graduate Chapters, extending from New York to Los Angeles
7 Chapters at 11 different Universities in upstate New York alone.
La Unidad Latina has been instrumental in helping the Hispanic Federation raise funds for various disaster efforts (phonathons, volunteers), which totaled over $1.3 million. La Unidad Latina raised about $7000 from our own efforts as individuals and chapters.
National Philanthropy: The La Unidad Latina Foundation has raised over $10,000 for minority scholarships over the last year.
Recognized nationally by the First Lady Hillary Clinton and the White House for our continual leadership and community service.
Alpha Chapter - 1999 Chapter of the Year by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at Cornell University.
Delta Chapter 2000 recipient of the Dean's Cup at Drexel University, awarded to the chapter who has demonstrated greek excellence and commitment.
Eta Chapter - 2000 recipient of the SUNY Albany President's Undergraduate Leadership Award (PULA) for Outstanding Community Service as an Organization.
Iota Chapter - 1999 and 2000 Chapter of the by the Office of Greek Affairs at Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Phi Chapter - 1998 Latino Student Organization of the Year Award, HHC Month.
Alpha Beta Chapter - 2000 recipient of the Most Outstanding Philanthropic Event Award from the Greek Affairs Office at the Univerity of UMASS-Amherst
La Unidad Latina is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).
La Unidad Latina is a nationally insured organization.

Mission Statement

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1982, exists to bring men together in Brotherhood and to unite the Latino community. In its pursuit to fulfill this mission, La Unidad Latina will:

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

General Information

Our Fraternal Motto is "La Unidad Para Siempre"
Our primary colors are Brown and Gold, our secondary colors are Red and White.
Our call is "UPSI" and the response is "ILON"
Those undertaking our pledge process, are called Caballeros, which is Spanish for gentleman or knight. As their title indicates, Caballeros are to conduct themselves with respect and chivalry, qualities which they are expected to retain upon receiving the title of Hermano.

This is our fraternal symbol:

Some Honorary Hermanos

Hermano Dr. Jaime Martinez-Tolentino
Dr. Jaime Martinez-Tolentino holds a BA & MA in French from New York University, a Ph.D from the University of Madrid, a Ph. D from the University of Massachusetts, and a Ph. D from Purdue University in Spanish Literature and History. An expert on Latin American Literature, he is the author of fourteen books, ten of which are devoted to literary criticism or research in linguistics. He is also a creative writer with two books of published short stories and a play. He teaches courses on Latin American literature and culture and is fluent in five languages: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and German.
Hermano Piri Thomas - Reknown poet and author, among his works is Down These Mean Streets, a novel which is a critically aclaimed best-seller. Hermano Piri's Web Site
Hermano Luis Miranda - Former head of the Hispanic Federation also served as Special Advisor and the Director of the Mayor's Office for Hispanic Affairs during the Koch administration. During his distinguished career, Mr. Miranda has served as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, Teachers College at Columbia University and Boricua College, among other institutions.
Hermano Roberto Ramirez - Bronx Democratic County Chairman and New York State Assemblyman 78th A.D.
Assemblyman Ramirez has represented the Fordham/Tremont section of the northwest Bronx since 1990. Assemblyman Ramirez has distinguished himself as a legislative leader in the areas of health care, taxation, economic development, education and welfare reform. He is also Chairman of the NY State Assemby Social Services Committee and Chairman of the New York State Puerto Rican Hispanic Task force.
Hermano Juan Figueroa - Chairman of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund
Juan A. Figueroa has been a long-time champion of the Latino community tackling such issues as affirmative action and language rights. Mr. Figueroa served on the Connecticut General Assembly and was the first Puerto Rican State Representative from the Third District in Hartford.
Hermano Guillermo Linares - New York City Council Member, 10th District
Hermano Linares was first elected to the New York City Council in a special election in 1991, and was subsequently reelected, in 1993 to a full 4-year term. In January of 1995, Linares was appointed to the White House Commission for educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.
Hermano Kaleil D. Isaza Tuzman, CEO and Co-founder of govWorks, Inc.
Hermano KaleiI D. Isaza Tuzman is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of govWorks. He is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic business plan and for managing the focus and direction of the company. www.govWorks.com

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Does La Unidad Latina have a sister sorority?

- No. Although we have strong historic ties to some organizations, we are not constitutionally or otherwise affiliated with any other organization

Do you haze?

- We do not physically abuse or degrade our Caballeros. Although our process is difficult, we do not believe brotherhood can be built upon a foundation of humiliation and degradation. Furthermore, La Fraternidad has anti-hazing policies which adhere to even the strictest anti-hazing laws.

How do you become an Hermano?

- There are three ways in which someone can become an Hermano:

The undergraduate pledge process.
The graduate/professional pledge process.
Selection to become an Honorary Hermano