Lambda Theta Nu

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

Lambda Theta Nu
ΛΘΝ
Founded	March 11, 1986; 38 years ago (March 11, 1986) California State University, Chico
Type	Academic
Affiliation	NALFO
Status	Active
Emphasis	Latin culture
Scope	National
Pillars	Academic Excellence, Community Service, and Sisterhood
Colors	Silver,   Burgundy, and   White
Symbol	Rose
Philanthropy	Tijeras
Chapters	45
Nickname	Lambdas and Sexy Silver Roses
Headquarters	1220 Rosecrans #543 San Diego, California 92106 United States
Website	www.lambdathetanu.org

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

See also

• List of social sororities and women's fraternities

References

1. 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. "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.