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The Daily OrangeGreek life | Small, but mighty
Despite low numbers, Latino greek community works to promote campus change
By Jac'leen Smith
Posted: 11/8/07, 1:01 AM EST Section: News
Greek life may be a world that many college students are accustomed to, but for Latino greek organizations at Syracuse University, it's a small world after all.
The Latino Greek Council is composed of only six individual chapters of sororities and fraternities, and it is one of the smallest greek councils out of the five on campus.
"I think it's more empowering because you know you have to bark louder," said senior Michelle Herrera, rush chair and member of Omega Phi Beta sorority. "We have to make sure that they know, so it's kind of like the Napoleon complex a little - the little Chihuahua barking at the bull dog."
This year, the LGC came into the semester with change in mind. A new plan of action focuses on program development, leadership and community service.
Herrera, vice president of the LGC, joined Omega Phi Beta in spring 2006 even though it isn't large in size. The sorority is a philanthropic and social organization that was founded on SU's campus in 1989.
"Before I joined, I felt like I could create change," Herrera said. "When you're with a group of people who want to do the same thing, it's more of a force."
LGC has shown the big organizations that it is small in size but it is still here and still counts, Herrera said. And conquering bigger dogs isn't all that members of the LGC want. They want to be recognized and supported by the larger greek councils on campus.
To cultivate recognition, the LGC sponsors their own community events such as March of Dimes and hosting a day for students in local schools to participate in games.
Diane Ceballos, however, said there is no mistaking the divide among LGC and other greek organizations.
"I guess now we are building a relationship with the IFC and the Panhellenic sororities and fraternities. It's kind of like they were never used to seeing us out there," Ceballos, president of LGC and vice president of Sigma Lambda Upsilon, said.
The Latino Greek Council is composed of only six individual chapters of sororities and fraternities, and it is one of the smallest greek councils out of the five on campus.
"I think it's more empowering because you know you have to bark louder," said senior Michelle Herrera, rush chair and member of Omega Phi Beta sorority. "We have to make sure that they know, so it's kind of like the Napoleon complex a little - the little Chihuahua barking at the bull dog."
This year, the LGC came into the semester with change in mind. A new plan of action focuses on program development, leadership and community service.
Herrera, vice president of the LGC, joined Omega Phi Beta in spring 2006 even though it isn't large in size. The sorority is a philanthropic and social organization that was founded on SU's campus in 1989.
"Before I joined, I felt like I could create change," Herrera said. "When you're with a group of people who want to do the same thing, it's more of a force."
LGC has shown the big organizations that it is small in size but it is still here and still counts, Herrera said. And conquering bigger dogs isn't all that members of the LGC want. They want to be recognized and supported by the larger greek councils on campus.
To cultivate recognition, the LGC sponsors their own community events such as March of Dimes and hosting a day for students in local schools to participate in games.
Diane Ceballos, however, said there is no mistaking the divide among LGC and other greek organizations.
"I guess now we are building a relationship with the IFC and the Panhellenic sororities and fraternities. It's kind of like they were never used to seeing us out there," Ceballos, president of LGC and vice president of Sigma Lambda Upsilon, said.
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