All the info you need about Latino Greek fraternities and sororities

Joining the right student organization can lead to a very rewarding collegiate experience, and many have found that committing to a Latino Greek Lettered Organization (LGLO) is the best way to turn an undergraduate education into an experience of a lifetime.

Fraternities and sororities have been around for a long time, but LGLOs developed in the ’70s to offer an alternative to traditional Greek lettered organizations. More than 30,000 people have joined a LGLO since. The increased popularity of LGLOs seems to stem from the appeal of the values at the core of the Latino Greek fraternal system.

What’s required to get in?
• Though each Latino fraternity and sorority offers a unique experience, membership in any LGLO often involves developing lifelong fraternal bonds that promote personal, academic and professional growth within a family-like environment.
• You don’t have to be Hispanic, Latino or fall into any type or category to join. In fact, LGLOs often distinguish themselves by a unique type of intake process, membership rituals designed to establish lifelong fraternal bonds that promote academic, professional and personal development during and after college. Some LGLOs also have basic academic requirements; but they generally welcome anyone who is willing to undergo their intake process and join their family.

Some LGLOs also require a commitment to participate in community service activities that focus on helping the Latino community. But philanthropic requirements are generally not used to determine initial membership eligibility.

Is an LGLO for you?
Even though most LGLOs welcome people from all walks of life, joining a Latino fraternity and sorority is not necessarily an easy thing to do. Some people find that certain organizations or the system as a whole is just not for them. For some, the intake process or active membership demands are too much.

So before deciding if a LGLO is or is not right for you, you should consider a few basic facts about the Latino fraternal system that will allow you to determine if one may be able to meet your needs.

LGLO basics
Every LGLO is distinguished by its own set of principles and traditions and should be evaluated on its own terms. Every organization boasts their own customs, purpose and internal structure.

Nonetheless, LGLOs share some characteristics that can help you weigh the pros and cons of joining one organization over another. The most prominent trait is that each LGLO aims to provide a means to develop close-knit relationships that will promote personal and collective growth by requiring prospective members to undergo an intake process before they can earn their letters and attain membership.

Because organizations have their own take on brotherhood and sisterhood, intake processes are all different. That means membership can mean very different things among organizations.

But before you try to investigate the details of an LGLO’s process, you should note that they tend to keep membership rituals confidential, so it is best to aim for a sense of what an organization’s intake process means instead of focusing too much on the details.

You can start by paying close attention to the language used to describe an organization’s intake process. For example, some organizations may speak of a “pledge” while others refer to theirs as an “educational process.” One type of intake process suggests a focus on establishing commitment while the other may emphasize more of a learning process.

Though the language used to describe an organization’s intake process can provide insight, the most effective way to gauge if an organization’s intake process and principles are in line with your values is to ask questions.

You can begin by visiting an organization’s Web site. You can also approach members directly at college campuses and fairs. If you know what college or university you will be attending, you can ask the office of student life for a list of fraternities and sororities available on campus.

The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) also has a Web site you can use to research and evaluate Latino sororities and fraternities, nalfo.org. NALFO is an umbrella organization that networks some of the largest and most prominent LGLOs in the country. NALFO member organizations have basic structural requirements.

What’s your next step?
If you identify an organization that you like and find that it is not available on the campus you attend, don’t feel limited to the choices on your campus. Instead, consider establishing a chapter of that organization on your campus. Most LGLOs have a chair of expansion listed on their Web sites that you can contact on how to initiate a chapter.

There are many factors to consider when you research an LGLO, and finding the right one may take some time. But if you are the least bit interested in forming lasting relationships and benefiting from a wealth of resources during college and perhaps the rest of your life, you may find that such efforts are worth your while.

Margarita Peralta is director of public relations on the board of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). She is a lifelong member of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority and a UC Berkeley alumnus. She currently resides in Tampa, Fla., where she works as a management development associate for Nielsen Media Research.