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Alpha Psi Lambda
American coed Latino college fraternity From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. (ΑΨΛ) is an American co-educational, Latino-oriented fraternity. The fraternity was established in 1985 at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. It was the first co-ed fraternity for Latino college students in the United States. The fraternity has chartered fifty chapters and has more than 4,800 members. It is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.
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History
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At an Hispanic leadership retreat in May 1984, a group of undergraduate students from Ohio State University identified a need for Latino organizations on campus.[1][2] The students worked with Josue Cruz, an assistant vice provost for the Office of Minority Affairs, to explore possible fraternities and sororities, ultimately deciding to create new new Latino fraternity.[1][2]
Alpha Psi Lambda was founded February 11,1985 at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio as a coeducational Latino fraternity.[3] It was the first co-ed fraternity for Latino college students in the United States.[4][5] At its founding, the fraternity identified its mission as "to promote continued personal and collective growth of our membership, success, and unity through education, leadership, cultural awareness, and community service."[6]
Three men and ten women became Alpha Psi Lambda first members on March 10, 1985: Diana Acevedo, Juan Casimiro, Carolyn Christian, James Cordero, Tammy Harris, Clara Isern, Marisol Lugo, Yolanda Natal, Saddy Rivera, Nancy Romo, Annette Saldivar, Annette Seda, and Juan Vera.[1][2] Acevedo was its founding president.[5]
In 1988, a second chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda was established at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.[3] This was followed by a chapter at Northern Illinois University in 1989.[3] In 1991, it had emerged out of the Midwest region with the establishment of a chapter at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.[3]
In 1998, the fraternity became a founding member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), a trade association of Latino fraternities and sororities, and remains a member today.[7][8] The fraternity's growth continued, with fifty chapters being chartered as of 2025.[3][9] It has initiated more than 4,800 members.[10]
Alpha Psi Lambda's national headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois.[3]
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Symbols
The motto of Alpha Psi Lambda is "Together We Shall Seek the Noblest".[11][12] Its values or pillars are Familia, Culture, Academics, Service, and Leadership.[10][13]
Alpha Phi Lambda's colors are gold and white.[11][12] Its symbol is the palm tree.[12][13] Its flower is the gold rose.[12][11] Its mascot is the jaguar.[12][11] The fraternity's nickname is "A-Psi".[13][12]
Activities
Alpha Psi Lambda's national philanthropies are the Boys & Girls Club of America, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[14][15]
Chapters
Alpha Psi Lambda has chartered fifty chapters as of 2025, with 34 being active.[3][9] It also has six colonies, called affiliate chapters and two alumni clubs.[9][16]
Controversies and member misconduct
In November 1990, the Black Greek Council at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign denied full membership to the campus chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda.[17] The BGC decline to meet with the fraternity to discuss its vote.[18] The fraternity claimed discrimination was the cause, as it has been an associate member of the Black Greek Council since May 1988.[17] The fraternity withdrew its associate membership from BGC following the vote.[17][18]
In October 2014, a member of the Northern Illinois University chapter stabbed a man who was trying to enter a party at the house of several members of the fraternity, claiming that the victim has punched him and other fraternity members when turned away from the party.[19]
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See also
References
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