Multicultural Greeks: Strength in small numbers

By Jessica Alway

Despite smaller numbers in membership, the multicultural Greek chapters at Santa Clara continue efforts to carry out their traditions without the university's support.

"I had an immediate connection with the other guys," said E.J. Smith, the president of the Psi Alpha chapter of the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity, commonly referred to as the Betas. "It was an easy decision for me. I knew by the way the brothers treated me from the first day I got here, this was the place for me."

The president of another multicultural house, the Sigma Lambda Gamma (Gammas) sorority first established in 1990, agrees that her chapter is also unique.

"I think the size of our chapter is actually an asset," said Norma Salas. "We are such a close-knit group of friends. We work well together and we can understand each other from common past experiences."

While the Phi Alpha chapter at Santa Clara, established in 1999, can boast nearly 20 ethnicities among its 21 active members, the Gammas are currently the largest Latino based sorority in the United States.

Like the Gammas, the Betas were established at the University of Iowa, four years earlier by 18 men, 16 of whom were Latino. They have gone on to establish 65 chapters and 11 colonies to date. The Psi Alpha chapter was created in the fall of 1998 at Santa Clara and currently has 17 active members.

The Nu Alpha Kappa (NAK) fraternity, founded in 1988 at Cal Polytechnical Institute, San Luis Obisbo, is the third multicultural house at Santa Clara, and was the first to be established at the university. The Eta chpater was created in 1993 by two students who attempted to pledge the chapter at San Jose, but could not because rush rules included mandatory attendance at the school to which the fraternity belonged. NAK has developed 14 chapters over 15 years, 13 of which are in California.

The majority of founders of all three organizations were of Latino or Hispanic decent, primarily looking to create a niche for themselves and others at universities with a large population of white students. For this reason, many of the non-profit and volunteer organizations they have chosen to develop a relationship with allow members to make contact with their roots and to help out those less fortunate.

The Betas devote time to the Big Brother/Big Sister program, Latino Vote USA, Hero Street USA and a special day devoted to a fallen brother, The Victor Correra CPR Awareness Day. The Gammas work with the TRIO program, an organization devoted to helping low-income and first generation high school students work to attain higher education, as well helping increase breast cancer awareness.

Along with working with the National Marrow Donor Program for bone marrow drives, NAK has recently helped to coach athletic teams at an after-school club in the small community of Alviso, a connection they found through an alumni and founding member of the chapter. Next year they hope to get more involved with another one of their national philanthropic efforts, the Hispanic Scholarship fund, according to NAK President, Augustine Chavez.

"We feel like we have been given such a great opportunity to attend this school," Chavez said. "Now it is time to give back to the community. Part of the reason our brotherhood is so strong is our commitment helping out."

Community service and ethical commitments are also important to the Gammas, who recently adopted the nearby low-income middle school and created a math club for interested students.

"We want to do what we can to educate," Salas said. "We have such a great group of talented women. Our main focus is to empower women to go out and make a difference."

But the sorority is not content to just reach Latino women. They want to make sure all women know how what they can achieve, according to Salas. Additionally, while the majority of members of all three houses are Latino, they are not exclusive nor do they have rules against bids for whites or any other race.

"Sometimes I feel like I am the oddball of our frat," said Mitch Keamy, a senior and active member of NAK. "I am Lebanese and like 99 percent of the rest of the frat is Latino. I wasn't sure if I would fit in, but then I rushed and I have never regretted it. I don't look different to any of my brothers." Chavez echoed the same type of statement about the brotherhood of his fraternity on a national level.

"I could go visit another chapter in the midwest and no matter ethnicity, a brother is a brother," he said. "The same blood runs through us all and that is what makes our brotherhood so unique."

The future of these smaller chapters looks strong as they continue to expand their presence within the Santa Clara community. The Betas decided to join the off-campus inter-Greek organization this year, coordinating their rush with the Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Pi and Cal Phi fraternities. As a member of the off-campus inter-Greek organization the Betas will be supported by the established presence of the older fraternities. Chavez is also interested in expansion for the fraternity.

Chavez said that expanding the organization out to other social arenas was one of the main goals of his presidency and helped to garner support from Mary Peterson, a member of the executive board fraternity and an Alpha Phi alumna. NAK, who is currently in the middle of formal rush this week, will also attempt to join the inter-Greek organization next year at this time.

"We were just too late for this year," said Chavez. "But it is definitely something we want to start doing soon."