Sigma Lambda Beta

Sigma Lambda Beta
ΣΛΒ
The official crest of Sigma Lambda Beta.
Founded	(1986-04-04) April 4, 1986 The University of Iowa
Type	Social
Scope	International
Motto	Opportunity for Wisdom, Wisdom for Culture
Colors	Royal Purple and Pure White
Symbol	White Stallion Mustang
Flower	Red Carnation
Publication	El Iluminador (Newspaper), REGO (Magazine)
Chapters	83 undergrad, 17 colonies, 17 Alumni Associations
Nickname	Lambda Betas or Betas or BETA BITCHES
Headquarters	900 West Penn Street North Liberty, Iowa USA
Website	Sigma Lambda Beta Website

Sigma Lambda BETA BITCHES (ΣΛΒ) International Fraternity, (also known as Lambda-Betas or Betas or Beta Bitches) is the largest historically Latino Greek letter intercollegiate fraternity. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City,[1] [2] [3] the fraternity is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO),[4] the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), and the Fraternity Leadership Association. Historically a Latino-based fraternity, Sigma Lambda Beta welcomes men of all cultures into its brotherhood. Its principles are brotherhood, scholarship, community service, and cultural awareness.

History

During the early spring 1986 semester, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal along with 17 other men began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino-based fraternity at The University of Iowa. Mendoza-Madrigal was a member of Phi Beta Sigma but wanted to create something that was more suited for Latinos. After months of intensive research, Mendoza-Madrigal began the creation of a new Latino-based fraternity. Mendoza-Madrigal called a special meeting on Monday, March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the Chicano Native American Cultural Center at The University of Iowa to discuss the need and feasibility of creating a new social fraternity with an emphasis on the Latino culture.

At that time, the student body at The University of Iowa was predominantly Caucasian. In addition, the Latino community on campus was divided into different social groups. As a result, the students who attended the first meeting wanted to solidify and unify the Latino and the multicultural community. Furthermore, the students wanted to promote a positive image of Latinos and minorities at the University.

After the first meeting, the enthusiasm in favor of the fraternity was so encouraging that the word spread throughout the University of Iowa. Everyone knew that something special was about to take place. On Friday, April 4, 1986, the members finalized the philosophy of the Organization. Hence, April 4, 1986, is the official founding date of the Sigma Lambda Beta.

The 18 Founding Fathers (15 Latino, one African, and two Asian) established Sigma Lambda Beta with the following principles in mind: Brotherhood, Scholarship, Cultural Awareness, and Community Service.

Founding Fathers

File:Slb-founders.jpg

Contains 13 of the 18 Founding Fathers of Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity

• Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal
• Mario Buendia
• Enrique Carbajal
• Thomas Carrasquillo
• Manuel Chavarria
• Jose Fong
• Rudolfo Garza
• Luis Jimenez
• Luis Marquez
• Eric Montes
• Kuy Ou
• Olakunle Oyeyemi
• Jaime Ramirez
• Olivera Rivera
• Juan Jose Rojas Cardona
• Eugenio Soria
• Juan Valdez
• Ricardo Zamudio

Sigma Lambda Beta today

Sigma Lambda Beta has grown to 83 chapters and 16 colonies. In addition there are 18 Alumni Chapters. Chapters are found in 26 states and in Puerto Rico.

The fraternity also started its own official publication called Rego Magazine which is published quarterly and is distributed to U.S. college campuses.

Sigma Lambda Beta became "Coast to Coast" in the spring of 1992 with the expansion to SUNY-Stony Brook (Pi chapter) and California State University-Dominguez Hills (Tau Chapter). Sigma Lambda Beta now has a presence in every region of the United States.

In March 1997, the fraternity was granted 501(c)(7) status by the IRS.

Sigma Lambda Beta is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).

Sigma Lambda Beta has two national philanthropies: The Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day and the Collegiate Leadership Development Program. There are also many local philanthropies that regional chapters have participated in.

Chapters

Main article: List of Sigma Lambda Beta Chapters

National events

Every year there are several annual national events, the majority of which change location year to year.

• Founders: An annual social which varies year to year, usually celebrated within a week or two of the anniversary of the founding of the fraternity.
• Festival Del Sol - An annual social held in Tampa, Florida on Labor Day weekend of every year.
• Convention: Takes place every other summer. At Convention, delegates from every chapter vote on bylaws of the fraternity and discuss various topics of interest.
• Retreat: An event that takes place every other summer, in years between Convention. At Retreat there are two delegates from every chapter, who take part in workshops, bonding exercises, and network with other chapters around the nation.
• Homecoming: A semi-national event taking place at the University of Arizona every year around the beginning of November, hosted by the Kappa Alpha Chapter.
• Spanish Fly: An annual social held in Tallahassee, Florida on Martin Luther King weekend of every year.

Alumni

Sigma Lambda Beta has a very young alumni network, but it is quickly growing. Many alumni are professionals including doctors, lawyers, architects, police, and law enforcement. Many alumni also pursue higher education beyond their undergraduate degree. Sigma Lambda Beta has 18 Alumni Associations.

Notable alumni

• Louis Valente, Ph.D. - Earned his doctorate in 2003 from the Rutgers Univ. / UMDNJ Joint Molecular BioSciences Ph.D. program. Today, Dr. Valente, is a post-doctoral scientist with the Gene Expression & Regulation Program at the Wistar Institute (Univ. of Pennsylvania). His research includes proteins that bind RNA for the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and he has been published in many international scientific journals.
• John Jacob Rodriguez, Ph.D. - Earn his doctorate in 2007 from Prairie View A&M Univ. / Department of Juvenile Justice & Psychology. Dr. Rodriguez is the first Latino in the country to receive a Ph.D. in Juvenile Justice. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington where he teaches criminology and criminal justice. His research includes Disproportianate Minority Confinement, Gangs, Transnational & International Crimes. He has also published numerous book chapters, journal articles, and book reviews.
• Alex Perez - Award-winning television reporter for NBC WMAQ-TV Chicago
• Francisco “El Tigre” Arreola - Professional boxer (29-3-2, 8 KO)
• Mark Slessinger - Northwestern State assistant basketball coach
• Edward Casso - Colorado State Representative, House District 32
• Henry Guerrero - Emmy award winner and executive producer for La Vida, ABC WFAA-TV Dallas/Fort Worth
• Andrew Velasquez III - Current director of the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), former director, Office of Emergency Management & Communications Chicago, Illinois
• Avian Carrasquillo - Newspaper reporter for The Daily Herald (third largest newspaper in Illinois)
• Murali Balaji - Journalist and author of The Professor and the Pupil: The Politics and Friendship of W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Robeson (Nation Books).
• Michael Benitez Jr. is a scholar, activist, public speaker, and spoken word artist and co-editor of Crash Course: Reflections on the Film Crash for Critical Dialogues About Race, Power and Privilege.

External links

• Sigma Lambda Beta website