Lambda Sigma Upsilon

Infobox Fraternity
letters = ΛΣΥ
name = Lambda Sigma Upsilon
motto = "Latinos Siempre Unidos" (Latinos Always United)
crest =
founded = birth date and age|1979|4|5
birthplace = Rutgers University |
type = Social
scope = National
address =
cultural symbol =Taino Indian
city = New Brunswick
state = New Jersey
country = USA |
colors = Baby blue and White
nickname = L-S-U or Upsilons |
homepage = [http://www.lsu79.org www.lsu79.org]
recognized = NIC NALFO

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 in New Brunswick, New Jersey by 20 men who believed minority students at colleges and universities were not getting the attention needed to advance their academic successes.

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

Goals

* Academic excellence - Ensuring that members earn their degree is a main focus within Lambda Sigma Upsilon.

* Cultural awareness and diversity - The fraternity does not use a typical "Greek" system (Alpha, Beta, etc.), but allows new chapters to create its own identity. Over 100 countries are represented in Lambda Sigma Upsilon, making LSU one of the most diverse fraternal organizations in the country. fact|date=September 2008

* Brotherhood - "Brotherhood" provides not only a group of individuals a sense of family away from home, but also 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 surrounding community.fact|date=September 2008

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.

Traditions

Since 1979, LSU is the first Latino fraternity to embrace the tradition of stepping.fact|date=September 2008 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.fact|date=September 2008 LSU were also the first Latino-based fraternity to compete against the traditional black-letter Greek organization, the Divine Nine.fact|date=September 2008 LSU has placed first in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 LatinoStep Silk Summer Strolling Competition and other nation wide strolling competition.fact|date=September 2008

HIV/AIDS research and awareness philanthropy

LSU's national philanthropy project is promoting HIV/AIDS research and awareness; LSU members participates in various events and projects, such as AIDS walks and World AIDS Day activities. The project was chosen to honor the memory of founder Alberto Rivera who died due to complications from the virus.

Chapters

External links

* [http://www.lsu79.org/index_shield.html Lambda Sigma Upsilon national website]