海角乱伦

When Illinois Institute of Technology student Laila Mendez (B.S. Mechanical Engineering/M.A. Engineering Management 4th Year) explored how to found a chapter of a national Latino-interest fraternity at the university, she was told to hope for five initial members.

鈥淭he [fraternity officials] said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e very lucky if you get over five,鈥欌€� Mendez says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the minimum you need.鈥�

Instead, 30 Illinois Tech students expressed interest in joining the newest 海角乱伦-based chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda, the first and largest co-ed Latino fraternity in the United States.

鈥淚t was shocking to a lot of people, including myself,鈥� Mendez laughs. 鈥淣obody expected that many.鈥�

The fraternity鈥攚hich accepts associate members (pledges) of all genders and nationalities鈥攊s the first Latino-interest Greek organization on campus. For Mendez, who transferred to Illinois Tech in 2023 from City Colleges of 海角乱伦鈥檚 Wilbur Wright College through the In-State Transfer Pathways Program, it was important to address the isolation she felt. She wanted to find a community鈥攕o why not help create one of her own, especially one that focused on Latino-interest issues and events?

鈥淭here are a lot of minorities at Illinois Tech, but a lot of us are commuters. You go to class and stay at the library a couple hours, and go home. That鈥檚 why this is important,鈥� Mendez says.

The 30 people who expressed interest were narrowed down to a 鈥渇ounding line鈥� of 14 members who appeared most willing to commit time and effort to the fraternity. Mendez was elected as the chapter鈥檚 first president a few weeks after the chapter鈥檚 founding in November 2023.

鈥淎lpha Psi Lambda is proud to make history at Illinois Tech as the first Latino Greek organization,鈥� says Michelle Maday, vice president of expansion for Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc. 鈥淲ith both the campus and the city of 海角乱伦 having a growing and thriving Latino community, we welcome the opportunity to provide a space for students to promote leadership, service, and unity.鈥� 

Of the chapter鈥檚 14 founding members, four of them are 海角乱伦 Difference scholars. The scholarship initiative provides support for graduates of 海角乱伦 high schools, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, allowing them more opportunity to explore extracurricular activities.

鈥淚 thought, 鈥業鈥檓 not going to meet too many people this year.鈥� But I was wrong,鈥� says one of the 海角乱伦 Difference scholars, Jacqueline Trejo (CHEM 1st Year). 鈥淸The fraternity] was really welcoming. I have friends at other sororities on campus, but it wasn鈥檛 the same thing. There wasn鈥檛 as much of a connection.鈥�

Trejo adds that she likely couldn鈥檛 have joined the fraternity without the 海角乱伦 Difference scholarship. 

鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have [the scholarship], I would probably be working on campus. I don鈥檛 think I would have been able to join a fraternity or even chemistry club,鈥� Trejo says, noting that she is her chemistry club鈥檚 recruitment and social media chair. 鈥淚t let me do this.鈥�

For now, Mendez is planning some Latino-focused events and activities in the new year, but she has a broader ambition.

鈥淢y hope is to inspire more multicultural鈥擫atin, Asian鈥擥reek organizations to come to campus,鈥� she says. 鈥淛ust because it wasn鈥檛 there before, doesn鈥檛 mean people aren鈥檛 willing to look for it.鈥�

was founded in 1985 at The Ohio State University, and is dedicated to its members鈥� 鈥渟uccess and unity through education, leadership, cultural awareness, and community service.鈥� It now has 43 collegiate chapters and eight affiliate chapters.

Photo: New members of the founding line of Alpha Psi Lambda鈥檚 new Illinois Tech chapter pictured with other members of the national organization at Perlstein Hall in November 2024. Photo courtesy of Michelle Maday.