A second family

As a junior in high school, Mexican-American Marcela Negrete wanted to go to the UW. While visiting, she met members of the Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA), the only Latina sorority on campus.

Negrete admired these girls and realized there were other Hispanic women on campus that she related to. She felt as though she would belong, and have support from a second family.

It is the feeling of belonging and support that many young Latina women search for when entering a university. Latinas face adversities such as teen pregnancies, domestic violence, drug abuse, rape and stigmas that come from the Hispanic culture.

After being hit with these road blocks, only 16 percent of Hispanic students graduate with a four-year college education, according to the Institute for Urban and Minority Education.

In the early 70s, colleges and universities received a large increase in the number of female and Hispanic students interested in receiving a college education. This influx is why LTA was formed as the first Latina sorority in 1975. The group wanted to offer stability, motivation and support for these women.

Almost 30 years later Latina students are still pledging to the sisterhood.

Negrete, who is now a 20-year-old majoring in accounting at the UW, has been a sister since spring quarter and was in the interest group for over a year.

Negrete said she never liked the idea of joining a mainstream sorority. She was attracted to LTA because the group stressed educational performance and empowerment of all women, something she admired.

The statistics are overwhelmingly against Latinas as they make their way through the world of higher education. This is why LTA's core principles revolve around helping the sisters study, maintain high grades and obtain scholarships or financial aid to pursue their education.

"I knew that I would be able to relate to this group of girls, because we all have come from similar backgrounds," said Negrete. "Our cultural connection creates a bond between us."

They see education as a form of empowering women and helping Latinas exceed society's cultural expectations of having children after high school.

"We are all here to excel and as a group we help each other get there," said Negrete. "LTA has provided a close knit support group for me."

She said Hispanic cultures center around family, and the sorority is a second family because of their culture.

The group has a different rush process than other sororities. It is not a live-in sorority, but rather a community service and academic group. A 2.5 GPA is required to join the sorority.

Interested women must join the sorority interest group, which acts as its own group, raising money, working with the community and spending time together. The interest group is supposed to give the interested ladies an idea of what a sister is expected to do as part of the group.

After becoming a member, the new sisters perform a probate service in Red Square. The women give salutes, march and demonstrate how hard they have worked to become members.

The probate is done traditionally by minority sororities and fraternities that don't live on campus. It is a way to show these other non-traditional groups a piece of their culture and traditions. It also allows the group to have visibility on campus, in order to show average students a piece of their culture.

"LTA helps keep me motivated. These girls believe in themselves and in me; that helps keep me going. It has helped keep me active in my community," said Negrete. "I have seen how grateful people are of our help and that makes our hard work worth it."

Sophomore Nicole Peger was in the LTA interest group last September and became a member in March. She has worked with two of the major community service projects the group provides for the Hispanic community.

A children's daycare, Las Escuelita allows women to leave their children at the daycare during the day, allowing them to attend work or school.

Other programs such as Relay for Life, Ronald McDonald and the Latina Health Fair reach many people, especially women in the Latin community.

The Latina Heath Fair, held in April, is a major event that draws many women from the community. It is funded by the Washington State Health Department.

The sorority members serve at an information booth and walk around assisting women. The goal of the health fair is to educate women about health risks they may be vulnerable to, but are unaware of. The fair provides free services for the day which the group believes is important because many Latinas are poor and without healthcare.

"Our group shows other Latinas in high school that they can make in college and get an education," said Nicole Peger. "We are setting an example for the community and to younger Hispanics. In a sense, this is community service."