Lambda Theta Nu
ΛΘΝ
FoundedMarch 11, 1986 (March 11, 1986)
California State University, Chico
TypeAcademic
AffiliationNALFO
EmphasisLatin culture
ScopeNational
Mission statementTo promote and foster Latina leaders through educational and professional development, relationship building, and community involvement.
Colors  Silver   Burgundy
  White
SymbolRose
PhilanthropyTijeras
Chapters44 chapters in 11 states
NicknameLambdas and Sexy Silver Roses
PillarsAcademic Excellence, Community Service and Sisterhood
Headquarters1220 Rosecrans #543
San Diego, CA 92106
USA
WebsiteOfficial website

Lambda Theta Nu (ΛΘΝ) is a Latina-based Greek letter intercollegiate sorority founded in 1986 at California State University, Chico.

History

Formation

Eighteen Latina students at California State University, Chico banded together during what they termed "a time of social struggles for Latinos, particularly those seeking higher education",[1] forming a new sorority on March 11, 1986 which they named Lambda Theta Nu.[2][3]

The sorority explains that the Founders surpassed the status quo for Latinas of the day by attending college; finding strength in numbers they realized that by coming together they could create a support system of helpful, friendly faces and hone a united voice to be heard, respected and recognized on its merits.[1]

Founding Mothers

  • Leticia Campos
  • Mary Helen Coronado
  • Pamela Daña
  • Abigail Estrada
  • Cecilia Fabian
  • Guadalupe Favela
  • Maria Gonzalez
  • Josephine Hernandez
  • Theresa Jauregui
  • Patricia Lozano
  • Luz Amelia Martinez
  • Rosa Meza
  • Imelda Michel
  • Rosana Michel
  • Teresa Reyes
  • Camille Rugama
  • Lisa Saldano
  • Rosabelia Sanchez

Early advocacy for the advancement of Latino and other minority communities remains a central part of the motivation of the sorority.

Purpose

The purpose of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. was set forth at its founding. "[Our purpose] shall be to open doors of opportunity to the Latinas in our community. The primary focus is academic excellence and meeting the needs of Latina women in higher education. Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. also promotes the advancement of Latinas through various campus activities and community services, and provides an environment for personal growth within a unit of sisterhood. Lambda Theta Nu Sorority Inc.'s priorities, however, will be placed on academic excellence and community service." [4]

Ongoing growth

Lambda Theta Nu has established 44 chapters since it began. Members are chosen on the basis of academic achievement (a 2.6 GPA is required to remain a member in good standing, and academic workshops are required by each chapter.) Along with academics, philanthropy and service are woven into its programming.

Perhaps surprising, and in a nod to the organizations' Hispanic roots, Lambda Theta Nu members regularly perform step dances with machetes to symbolize their culture and the strength of Latina Women. "Strolling" or "Party Walking is another widely enjoyed event, performed in unison to rhythmic beats; the sorority competes for the best step and stroll performances in nationally competition. The sorority explains it was first introduced to step dancing by Delta Sigma Theta, an historically African-American sorority, in 1987.[4]

The sorority maintains a national alumnae association, the National Association of Lambda Alumnae.

In 1998 the sorority was a founding member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).

Symbols

The sorority's colors are silver, burgundy, and white. Its symbol is the rose.

Philanthropy

The sorority's Tijeras National Community Service Program has been a focus of philanthropy since Lambda Theta Nu was formed. Tijeras addresses the Latino communities educational needs by focusing in the areas of Latino leadership and Latino literacy. The National community service program has two components, academic excellence and community service represented by Latina Youth Leadership Conference and Latino Literacy Fund.[5]

Lambda Scholarship

One of the main goals of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. is to encourage and assist Latinas in the advancement of higher education, dedication to community service, and to provide an environment for personal growth within a unit of sisterhood. The organization does not only focus on its active members, but in the overall Latino community. In order to further their interest in helping out the Latino community, as a national organization Lambda Theta Nu Sorority Inc., has established a National Latina Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is designed with the goal of assisting young high school women pursue their own educational goals. Annually, every chapter awards a scholarship to applicants in their respective community.[6]

In 2020 the sorority announced it was offering $40,000 in scholarship grants to support ten Latina applicants, regardless of membership status in the sorority.[7]

Chapters

Following is a list of Lambda Theta Nu chapters.[8][9] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status References
Alpha March 11, 1986 California State University, Chico Chico, California Active
Beta October 27, 1990 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active
Gamma December 9, 1990 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Active
Delta April 6, 1991 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California Active
Epsilon December 5, 1992 University of California, Davis Davis, California Active
Zeta April 22, 1994 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California Active
Eta October 22, 1994 Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado Active
Theta January 23, 1995 California State University, Northridge Los Angeles, California, Active
Iota September 22, 1996 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Active
Kappa April 19, 1997 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado Active
Lambda Reserved Memorial
Mu November 22, 1998 University of California, Riverside Riverside, California Active
Nu September 26, 1999 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California Active
Xi September 23, 2000 University of California, San Diego San Diego, California Active
Omicron November 18, 2000 University of Nebraska Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Active
Pi November 18, 2000 California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Active
Rho December 19, 2000 Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas Active
Sigma April 1, 2001 University of California, Irvine Irvine, California Active
Tau November 10, 2001 University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Active
Upsilon November 3, 2002 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California Active
Phi March 22, 2003 University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, Texas Active
Chi October 12, 2003 Stanford University Stanford, California Active
Psi December 6, 2003 Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska Active
Omega October 30, 2005 California State University, Monterey Bay Monterey County, California Active
Alpha Beta October 15, 2005 University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, Nebraska Active
Alpha Gamma July 22, 2006 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska Active
Alpha Delta September 23, 2006 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California Active
Alpha Epsilon April 14, 2007 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active
Alpha Zeta June 21, 2007 University of San Francisco San Francisco, California Active
Alpha Eta June 30, 2007 San Francisco State University San Francisco, California Active
Alpha Theta November 13, 2007 San Jose State University San Jose, California Active
Alpha Iota March 14, 2008 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Paradise, Nevada Active
Alpha Kappa November 2, 2008 California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, California Active
Alpha Lambda March 28, 2009 Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Active
Alpha Mu July 11, 2009 Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois Active
Alpha Nu July 11, 2009 St. John's University Queens, New York City, New York Active
Alpha Xi December 11, 2010 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Active
Alpha Omicron September 11, 2011 Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado Active
Alpha Pi January 22, 2012 University of California, Merced Merced, California Active
Alpha Rho April 7, 2012 California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson, California Active
Alpha Sigma June 22, 2013 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado Active
Alpha Tau July 29, 2014 California State University, East Bay Hayward, California Active
Alpha Upsilon November 23, 2014 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Active
Alpha Phi December 13, 2014 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California Active
Alpha Chi January 11, 2015 Kent State University Kent, Ohio Active

References

  1. 1 2 As noted on the website in a brief summary of formation, accessed 5 Jul 2021.
  2. ↑ "Lambda Theta Nu Sorority Inc.: The Sexy Silver Roses on campus | Student Life". iowastatedaily.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  3. ↑ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 5 Jul 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  4. 1 2 "About Us". Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  5. ↑ "Service". Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  6. ↑ "Academics". Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  7. ↑ Noted in a 27 Jul 2020 press release, accessed 5 Jul 2021.
  8. ↑ "Chapter Finder". Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  9. ↑ Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 3, 2022) "Lambda Theta Nu". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed October 14, 2023.
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