Representing your Latino Greek Organization

Remember back in January I wrote about the anatomy of being Latino and Greek?  Today I have countless conversations with Greek members and after watching Sprite Step Off, you have to wonder if historically speaking, organizations have grown (literally and physically). I actually support the Greek system even though it (sometimes) brings drama to your life. Although some individuals associate fraternities and sororities with gangs, these Greek organizations can be organized for many purposes, including university education, work skills, ethics, ethnicity, religion, politics, charity, chivalry, other standards of personal conduct, asceticism, service, performing arts, family command of territory, and more.

This world is too small for anyone to think your organization didn’t have influence from organizations before you. Would Latino Greek lettered organizations (LGLO) exist if black Greek lettered organizations (BGLO) didn’t form? And would BGLO’s not exist if the first Greek lettered fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, wasn’t founded? Either way, I’m happy to see Greeks changing their community because of their Greek experiences. In college we do so much community service and not just because we have to, because it’s important! If high school students don’t see college students actively in the community, then why should they want to do it in the future?

I am happy to see Greeks step away from the norm and help out not just themselves but the community. Take a look at Omega Phi Beta and their recently just launched National Step/Stroll Team Web site. It’s not just a Web site showcasing their work but it also promotes some of their initiatives to young high school students. Most LGLO’s and BGLO’s support certain philanthropies and focus a lot of their work on cancer awareness, leukemia, etc. I only wish media organizations took note of these positive stories. It seems as though the only time I see Greek organizations in the news is when a fraternity or sorority are caught drinking or hazing. How about Gamma Phi Sigma’s stroll competition benefiting their brother who is currently fighting cancer? There are countless other initiatives which can be named, I only hope you don’t judge someone the next time you see Greek letters on a Latino.

by Eric Cortes