Lambda Sigma Upsilon

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Lambda Sigma Upsilon
(ΛΣΥ)
Founded April 5, 1979 (1979-04-05) (age 29)
Rutgers University
Type Social
Scope National
Motto Latinos Siempre Unidos (Latinos Always United)
Colors Baby blue and White
Headquarters
New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Homepage [http://www.lsu79.org

Lambda Sigma Upsilon (ΛΣΥ) ("L-S-U" or "Upsilons") is a Latino oriented Greek letter intercollegiate fraternity founded on April 5, 1979 at Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ.

The 20 founders of LSU were men who believed that the minority population at colleges and universities were not getting the attention they so desperately needed to advance their academic successes. With this notion, they created Lambda Sigma Upsilon to act as a support group for minorities, as well as to provide a family away from home. The founders developed 4 Goals that would embody the purpose of Lambda Sigma Upsilon. These Goals are:

Contents

[edit] Goals

  • Academic excellence - Ensuring that members (brothers) earn their degree is a main focus within Lambda Sigma Upsilon. It is believed and taught within LSU that brothers will go beyond the extra mile to ensure that all academic goals are achieved.
  • Cultural awareness and diversity - Lambda Sigma Upsilon maintains a strong emphasis on cultural awareness. Lambda Sigma Upsilon does not go by a typical "Greek" system (Alpha, Beta, etc.); rather we let each new chapter create its own identity, ensuring that their legacy is passed down. The diversity of the fraternity is very evident amongst brothers within the organization. Over 100 countries are represented in Lambda Sigma Upsilon, thus making LSU one of the most diverse fraternal organizations in the country.
  • Brotherhood - LSU prides itself on its unique and diverse brotherhood. Brotherhood provides not only a group of individuals a sense of family away from home; it helps individuals gain a new perspective on college life, and ultimately, a refined vision of humane understanding. Brotherhood also provides various networking opportunities with individuals who share common interests.
  • Being role models to the community - Lambda Sigma Upsilon is well known for its service to the campus community and the community-at-large.

[edit] Mission

The brothers of Lambda Sigma Upsilon strongly believe that many individual and collective successes can be achieved through the efforts of a culturally diverse brotherhood of college and university men who, through close association with each other, maintain honesty, commitment, respect, and trust. The maintenance of these qualities is nurtured in large part through the diversity of culture and through self-awareness and self-respect. Among the results of actions taken in these states of being are the promotion of friendship and Brotherhood, the development of individual character, the advancement of justice and opportunity, and the acquisition of soundness and excellence in education.

[edit] Membership

For over a quarter of the century, Lambda Sigma Upsilon has exceeded the expectations of its founders: uplifting men of all cultures therefore becoming the most diverse fraternity in the nation, assisting the campus communities and community-at-large. LSU provides all men seeking membership equal opportunity and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, marital status, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, parental status, or political affiliation.

[edit] Upsilon Family

Although each organization’s cultural composite is unique and we are distinctly separate governing bodies and organizations that function independently of each other; we work together and thus form the Upsilon Family with Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority Incorporated. The Upsilon Family is about unity amongst sisters and brothers that share similar goals to enrich their surrounding academic and neighboring communities with service and cultural enrichment.

[edit] Tradition - Stepping & Strolling

Since 1979, LSU is the first Latino fraternity to embrace the tradition of stepping. LSU believes stepping is historically and culturally relevant to Latinos by paying homage to their Indigenous and African ancestry. LSU Step teams have competed in various competitions across the nation and were the first to win first place at the first ever LatinoStep Summer Step Competition in 2002. LSU were also the first Latino-based fraternity to compete against the traditional black-letter Greek organization, the Divine Nine.

LSU is the first Latino organization to participate in a form of party-walk aka stroll. Since then they have revolutionized the strolling competition and gained the title of "Kings of Stroll" for their unbeatable back to back winning record. LSU has placed first in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 LatinoStep Silk Summer Strolling Competition and other nation wide strolling competition.

[edit] National Philanthropy - HIV/AIDS Research and Awareness

LSU's National Philanthropy is HIV/AIDS Research and Awareness which was chosen to honor the memory of one of our founding fathers’ Alberto Rivera who died due to complications from this virus. LSU participates in various events and projects in support of their national philanthropy such as: AIDS WALK - contributing donations and volunteering; World AIDS Day - partipating in a national event and chapters hosting AIDS related programs/events; Hosting Step/Stroll shows with event profits goings to AIDS charities, Assisting AIDS testing centers and organizations against AIDS; Showcasing AIDS related literature and much more.

Most recent National Event Press Release:

Worlds AIDS Day 2006 - http://www.lsu79.org/swf/main_text/press_files/pressrelease_12-5-06.pdf

[edit] Notable Alumni

  • Founding Father Eleuterio "Junior" Maldonado - Former City Councilman (Jersey City) - http://politicsnj.com/maldonado030304.htm
  • Founding Father Angel Melendez - Co-Founder of Willamson & Melendez Attorney at Law Personal Injury Law Firm - Boston - Recently started Melendez & Saniol Attorneys in Salt lake city, Utah. An organization committed to providing free legal advice to Hispanic and Asian communities. http://www.wilmellaw.com/DisplayPage.php?MenuItemID=6021
  • Founding Father Roberto Muniz - President of various retirement homes through the state of New Jersey - http://home.comcast.net/~achca.nj/committees.htm
  • Founding Father Jose Sabater - Director of Housing - Elizabeth, NJ
  • Brother Perry M. Schwarz (Monarca Chapter)-Long time Irvington, NJ politician and public service consultant. http://www.bigperry.com/
  • Brother Hector Estrada (Areyto Chapter) - Founder of Triko Clothing - http://www.triko.com
  • Brother Luis Lopez (Emperadores Chapter) - Actor - Character on MyNetworkTV's "The Heiress" airing Feb '07 and upcoming movie "The Singer" (The Life of Famous Singer Hector Lavoe), he will be playing the character of Willie Colon - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2064962/
  • Brother Andrew Huang (Taino Chapter) - Producer and director, MTV (directed and produced MTV's TruLife: I'm A Stepper)
  • Brother Billy Delgado (Taino Chapter) - Republican Nominee for Mayor of Perth Amboy, NJ
  • Brother Ian Aronovich (Taino Chapter) - Co-Founder and CEO of Cyweb Holdings Inc. (parent company of GovernmentAuctions.org and Foreclosure Magic)
  • Brother Jairo H. Paredes (Taino Chapter) - Served over 5 years on the National Executive Board of LSU as the Natl. Expansion Officer. Responsible for getting the fraternity nationally recognized in the NIC (North-American Interfraternity Conference) in 1997 and NALFO (National Association of Latino Fraternal Orgs).
  • Brother Joe Quintero (Taino Chapter) - Screen writer and Actor - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0704222/
  • Brother Andrew Greenstein (Emperadores Chapter) - Founder of http://www.Azoos.com and the Azoos family of companies
  • Brother Javier Molina (Areyto Chapter)- Director and Producer of Urban Genre Movies - http://www.thepureproductions.com/
  • Brother Carlos J. Fernandez (Seneca Chapter) - Founder and Partner of Talent Family INC. (Microsoft Certified Company) - http://www.talentfamily.com/
  • Brother Carlos Ojeda Jr. (Tikal Chapter) - Motivational Speaker & Educator - http://www.carlosojedajr.com/
  • Brother Nelson Nieves (Intocables Chapter) - First Latino Human Resources Executive for a major Fortune 500 company and co-founder of The National Association of Latino Human Resources Professionals - http://www.nalhrp.org.

[edit] National Umbrella Organization

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

[edit] Chapters

[edit] External links