Check Out SLU's Official Youtube Channel!

Sigma Lambda Upsilon has launched its very own offical Youtube channel, Senoritas1987. This channel contains a great number of SLU videos on the web. Most of these videos are performance-based (stepping & strolling), but there will be a great number of more videos added in the near future that will extend to different topics and subject areas. This is a great way for Hermanas and SLU supporters to have easier access to SLU videos on the web.

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/user/Senoritas1987

Here are 4 of the many featured videos:

Iota Chapter Señoritas Join National PR Committee!

Sasha Lopez and myself (Patricia Rodriguez) are proud to be a part of Sigma Lambda Upsilon's National Public Relations Committee. We work directly with the Director of Public Relations, Carol Olate, to implement and execute marketing and communications initiatives for Sigma Lambda Upsilon.
Why is this so GREAT?!
SASHA: I think it's a great way to help the Hermandad on a national level. In addition, it's also a great way to get to know hermanas from different regions and pledge classes.

ME: As an alum, I think it is great to be able to assist the National Board. Also, I think that Sigma Lambda Upsilon really creates great avenues for alumni to continue to be involved in the Hermandad (sisterhood). In addition, I have a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and felt that it would great to put my skills to use for my sorority. I truly love working with Carol and the Hermanas on the committee. We all have a passion for SLU and it shows in the work that we do everyday.

Why Sigma Lambda Upsilon?

I never thought I would join a sorority. In fact, I had many misconceptions about Greek life and associated fraternities and sororities with wild parties, strolling, and cockiness. I couldn't see myself as a part of that and didn't consider joining an organization until my junior year of college.

I came across an organization that changed my mind about everything I thought regarding Greek life. They were intelligent, professional, dedicated to the community, friendly, open, sincere... they were the women of Sigma Lambda Upsilon. I admired the organization, but still didn't know if joining a sorority would be right for me, but as I met more and more of the women that make up this wonderful organization, I realized that SLU was in my heart and therefore, I had to pursue membership.



The PEARLS and LADYS mentoring programs for young women and the strong literacy initiatives focusing on children and the Latino community implemented by the sorority truly touched me. These women were advocating for the same things I was through campus organizations like the African-Latino Society, except by becoming a part of this organization, they would become my Hermanas (sisters)and I would be part of a network of women that were truly affecting change. In addition, the bonds that we would create and our commitment to service would last beyond our undergraduate years.

Even though I am a Latina (I'm Dominican), I still thought about whether a Latina-based sorority was right for me. I acknowledge and celebrate my African roots and didn't want to deny them in any way, shape or form. However, I quickly saw that many of the Hermanas of SLU were African-American, West Indian, White, Cape Verdian, Indian, among many other nationalities and races. In fact, the women of the Iota Chapter (the chapter I pledged in Ithaca, NY) were Puerto Rican, Dominican, Korean, African-American, the list goes on. So I quickly saw that this Sorority is Latina-based, not Latina-exclusive. I also saw that the sorority had implemented programs to discuss colorism in the Latino community and to celebrate our African heritage. I knew I was in the right place.



I wanted to be a part of a group of women who were leaders in their fields, advocates of women and people of color, feminists, innovators, trendsetters, activists... I found all this and more in Sigma Lambda Upsilon. I am so proud to have joined this Hermandad (sisterhood). My Hermanas support me in all my endeavors and I support them in all they do. We are a family above all and it feels good to have a home away from home. They truly do mean the world to me.


Sigma Lambda Upsilon, Hasta La Muerte!!!! Rrrrrraaaaahhhh!!!!!

Sonia Sotomayor - her story is our story!

So many young women of color from the inner city dream of acquiring a higher education and attaining professional success. Sonia Sotomayor now serves as their inspiration. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Sotomayor has achieved a great level of success. She received her B.A. from Princeton University and her J.D. from Yale. In addition, she has been an advocate for Latinos in education from early on, fighting so that more Latino faculty/staff had opportunities to work with students at Princeton and Yale. The Latino student population at these schools is extremely small and by having Latino faculty and staff, this student population could feel more supported. Sotomayor has also served on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, among many other non-profit organizations. She has always remembered her roots and focused on the rights of women and persons of color in the U.S.



SLU Stands for Sotomayor. We support her nomination as a talented judge and as a Latina woman who is breaking barriers for all women and the Latino community, overall. The Hermanas of SLU are proud of Sotomayor's accomplishments and know that her nomination will aid us in empowering young women through our PEARLS and LADYS mentoring programs. The young women we work with can see a woman with their background, culture, and heritage reach new heights, and they will surely reach new heights of their own. This nomination is also an inspiration to our Hermanas (sisters) and all Latinas across the country.

Check out our national press release stating our support of Sotomayor's nomination and make sure to continue standing for SOTOMAYOR!

www.sigmalambdaupsilon.org/Sotomayorpressrelease.pdf

Summer Fun with the Señoritas!

Sigma Lambda Upsilon has various events going on this summer so if you want to get to know the Señoritas, you don't have to wait until the fall.

Check out Theta Alpha Graduate Professional Chapter's Annual Picnic TODAY at Riverside Park!



Theta Alpha Graduate Professional Chapter of
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.
invite you to our

Annual Picnic at Riverside Park

Date: Saturday July, 11th 2009.
Time: 12pm - 5pm
Donation - Only $5.00

Enjoy a full day of great food (burgers, pastelillos and more!), great company and interactive activities and The Annual Tug-of-War!

Train Directions:
#1 Train to 145th Street -walk one block west to park...
A-C-D-B Trains to 145th Street and St. Nicholas Ave. - walk 4 blocks to park.
Enter through RiverBank - Take stairs to RiverSide Park

We look forward to seeing many of you there.

______________________________________


If you are interested in learning more about the essence of a Señorita, you can attend our National Informal Tea, which is open to ALL interested women.



Are you interested in…
*Sisterhood?
*Academic Excellence?
*Community Service?
*Cultural Enrichment?
*Leadership?

Are you searching for…
*Sincerity?
*Loyalty?
*Unity?

Date: Friday, July 24, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: The Beacon Hotel - Conference Room
Street: 2130 Broadway
City/Town: New York, NY

Learn more about the Hermanas, what makes us different from the rest, and why our Hermandad (Sisterhood) lasts HASTA LA MUERTE. Come find out why MANY ARE CALLED, BUT THE CHOSEN ARE FEW.

Check out "My Life as a Señorita" by Hermana Dorissa Gonazalez, Alpha Delta Chapter, SUNY Stony Brook, a personal account on SLU's impact. Also, make sure to check out www.sigmalambdaupsilon.org to learn more about SLU.

Academic Excellence at work: Iota Chapter has the Highest GPA in MGLC!

The Señoritas of Iota Chapter received some great news this week. Sigma Lambda Upsilon ranked #1 in GPA among all 17 Multicultural Greek Council fraternities and sororities at Cornell University and #4 among all sororities on campus. The Señoritas strive to uphold the sorority's goal of academic excellence in the highest regard. After all, SLU puts education first and lives up to this ideal as numerous chapters have received various academic honors this year.

Iota Chapter Wins Awards!

The Iota Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. has been the recipient of many awards this past academic year. At the Cornell Greek Awards, the Señoritas were awarded the following:

Outstanding Chapter Leader - Sasha Lopez

Outstanding Contributions to the Multicultural Greek Letter Council

Distinguished Alumni Service Award - Daisy Torres

Outstanding Faculty Fellow Program



In addition, at the A.D. White Leadership Conference, Hermana Sasha Lopez was the recipient of the John S. Dyson Citizenship Award and Hermana Patricia Rodriguez received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from Ithaca College's Higher Education Opportunity Program, as well as, the Most Valuable Senior Award at the ALANA Senior Brunch. Sasha Lopez was inducted into the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society at Cornell and Patricia Rodriguez was inducted into Alpha Delta Sigma Honor Society for excellence in advertising studies.



Lastly, Hermana Patricia Rodriguez graduated from Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communication with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. She will be pursuing a Master of Science in Communication at Ithaca College this Fall, while Hermana Daisy Torres will be pursuing a Master's in Higher Education Administration at Binghamton University.



The Señoritas look forward to the new academic year and providing the Cornell, Ithaca College, and surrounding Ithaca community with great programs, events, community service activities, literacy initiatives, fundraisers for our national LADYS and PEARLS mentoring programs, and much more!