The Story of "La Unidad Latina"

- Narrated by Founding Father Hernando Londoņo

The Idea
In the fantasy land that sometimes seems like at Cornell University (especially for a Latino from New York City), an idea was born in the summer of 1981. It was an idea that would take a life of its own. That summer, a conversation was started by a group of Latinos on campus, which brought up the fact that there was a need for a Latino fraternity. At the time, there was little choice for Latinos who wanted to join a fraternity; you either joined a traditionally white fraternity or a traditionally black one. This group of Latinos began not only to talk about the idea of creating a Latino fraternity, but taking steps towards building one. Those summer conversations sprung up informal meetings to discuss the idea.

I was working as a Peer Counselor for the minority Summer Program at the time. Everyone agreed that there was a need for brotherhood and unity as well as a need for more cultural expression and exchange of ideas between Latinos at Cornell, but very few where willing to commit to more than words. We all wanted this new fraternity to not be a typical fraternity - less Animal House and more one of true Latino unity, culture and academic excellence. We wanted this new fraternity to shine for its Latino pride and represent all that is good in our people and culture.

The Early Days
Willard Straight Hall, Cornell University The following semester (Fall 1981) the work began on organizing the Latino fraternity. The organizing was slow. Most people indicated an interest in the mission, but few committed themselves. The first few meetings were attended by only a handful of people. After the fourth meeting, the core group had expanded. A club, La Unidad Latina was registered with the university on 9/15/81, with myself as President. The intent was to register first as a club and then officially become a fraternity. After much work at recruiting people, the fraternity started to gain form. From approximately 30 interested men, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity was formed with 13 members, the Founding Fathers:

1. Hermano William Barba - Senior Pre-Medicine
2. Hermano Dennis DeJesus - Sophomore Pre-Medicine
3. Hermano Hernando Londoņo - Sophomore Engineering
4. Hermano Jessie Luis - Sophomore Engineering
5. Hermano Samuel Ramos - Senior Engineering
6. Hermano Tomas Rincon - Sophomore Engineering
7. Hermano Edwin Rivera - Junior Engineering
8. Hermano Mario Rivera - Junior Engineering
9. Hermano Victor Rodriguez - Senior Economics
10. Hermano Victor Silva - Sophomore Pre-Medicine
11. Hermano Jose Torres - Junior Pre-Medicine
12. Hermano Henry Villareal - Faculty Advisor
13. Hermano Jim Ziebel - Cornell Administrator
Honorary Hermano Hermano Angel Montaņez

It was very tough to get engineers and pre-medicine majors to give up any of their free time, but in spite of this, we marched forward. The fraternity was finally registered as an official fraternity with the university in the beginning of the second semester, January 1982. On Friday, February 19th 1982, an initiation ceremony was held at Henry Villareal’s (our faculty advisor) home, and we became the Founding Fathers (Los Fundadores) of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity. La Fraternidad uses the February 19, 1982, as the founding date because it was at this ceremony, that the group formally took their oaths and became Hermanos of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

One of the things that impressed us the most at the inception of La Fraternidad was when our Faculty Advisor, Henry Villareal, and Jim Ziebell, a Cornell Administrator, asked us to become Hermanos. This was very important to us because it made us realize that what we were doing was something special. Being primarily a group of sophomores and juniors, we were very honored when these two faculty members asked us to let them join. There were many times that we held meetings (business and social) at Henry’s place. He helped to provide a foundation for our young organization. He also provided much needed guidance and counseling to the group as well as to all Hermanos individually.

The idea of a Latino Fraternity originated out of a need at the Cornell campus. In that environment, there was a small number of Latinos relative to the rest of the population, as well as an almost non-existent Latino community around the university. The existing Latino student organizations did not provide enough sense of unity among the Latino population. There was no focal point for Latino culture. Many of the students needed a place to find their cultural roots. There were also many divisions among the Latinos. These factors coalesced to create the need for the creation of La Fraternidad. The need was there, and through the hard work, dedication, and faith in our destiny, La Fraternidad was founded.

The idea started in that campus, but our dream then, as well as now, is to spread La Fraternidad, its ideas and goals across the U.S., and the Americas. Our ideas of Latino Unity, Culture and empowerment require life time commitments. We want Hermanos that will become the leaders of our people, that will make great sacrifices for the benefit of our people, that stand for and live up to the best of the Latino culture. It seems a long time now from those early days when we had meetings on the steps of Barnes Hall or a room in Willard Straight. Now we have several chapter web sites on the internet, as well as a national web site, a national governing structure, and a business/strategic plan. The real test of a successful organization is what happens after the founders are no longer running the day to day activity.