• UPHOLDING THE LEGACY •

Although the initial interest group for the fraternity also included students from the University of Rhode Island (URI), the Alpha Line of the Zeta Chapter consisted solely of Brown students. Aware of the fact that there was interest in establishing a chapter of the fraternity at URI, the Hermanos extended invitations to interested students from URI for the following Pledge Class in the Fall of 1990. That Pledge Class consisted of one student from Brown, Hermano Julian Natalio Llanas, and one student from URI, Hermano Victor Francisco Capell‡n. Continuing in the tradition of the Zeta Chapter fundadores, Hermanos Julian and Victor worked together as one, despite being on separate campuses over 40 miles apart. They would become an integral part of both Zeta and Mu Chapter history by becoming the first joint Brown-URI line, and working together along with the Zeta Chapter Founding Hermanos toward establishing the Mu Chapter at URI. As a result, the Brown and URI Hermanos functioned as one chapter on two separate campuses. It was a tradition the chapter would follow for several years.

In the Spring of 1991, the Gamma Line of the Zeta Chapter consisted of two Brown students, Hermanos Elee Ismael Muslin and Martin Tom‡s Velasquez, and one URI student, Hermano Henry Ponciano. The Gamma Line of the Zeta Chapter was the second joint Brown-URI line and made for a cohesive group of students from two campuses. This time around, there was also an Hermano presence to supervise the Caballero at URI, and to provide guidance and support in absence of fellow line Hermanos. Although the Gamma Line would increase the number of Hermanos in the fraternity, it would not provide enough Hermanos to establish a new chapter at URI. Hermanos Victor Capell‡n and Henry Ponciano would work hard together to increase interest and fraternity presence at URI.

The fraternity continued to provide community events for the Brown and URI campuses and also participated in the student organizations, events and contests. The Zeta Chapter participated in the 1990 "Trykes for Tykes" fund-raiser, raising money for local youth in need, and began working with local community service programs involving urban youth. Programs such as Times2 and Puentes, allowed Hermanos to serve as mentors and role models to elementary children. It gave the Hermanos an opportunity to step out into the Providence community and provide support for local youth, and it gave the children a chance to come to Brown and experience some of the lighter aspects of higher educations, such as the annual Easter Egg hunt coordinated for the kids of Times2 and Puentes.

The Hermanos were also very successful in other extracurricular activities. In September 1991, they competed in the first Delta Sigma Theta Stroll Competition against several other fraternities, and would go on to win first place. Although the Hermanos would not participate in the Stroll competition the following fall, they would come back in January of 1994 to capture their second trophy.

In the Spring of 1992, the Hermanos of the Zeta Chapter were in charge of overseeing the pledging process of not only their fourth line, the Delta Line of the Zeta Chapter, but also the establishment of a new chapter at Yale University. The Alpha Line of the Kappa Chapter at Yale University was sponsored by the Zeta Chapter, and supervised by our National Council. The Delta Line of the Zeta Chapter consisted of four students, all from URI. The Hermanos of the Delta Line of the Zeta Chapter -- Henry Remolina, Boo Tuon, Christian Tolentino, and Huey Phan -- would be supervised by Hermanos Victor Capell‡n and Henry Ponciano, while several of the Hermanos from Brown would oversee the pledging process for the Kappa Chapter Alpha Line. The Delta Line provided for a larger presence for the fraternity at URI, and the establishment of the Kappa Chapter would provide a larger presence for the fraternity in the New England region.

Although the Delta Line of the Zeta Chapter provided a greater presence for the fraternity at URI, it concerned Hermanos at Brown that no Brown students were in the Delta Line interest group. With the impending graduation of the remaining six Alpha Line Hermanos in May 1992 (Hermano Rick Quiles graduated in 1990), the Zeta Chapter was faced with a diminishing roster of Hermanos. Late in the Spring '92 semester, an interest group of almost a dozen Brown students approached the Zeta Chapter Hermanos. The following Fall, five of those men would go on to pledge the Epsilon Line of the Zeta Chapter (Fall '92). The Epsilon Line represented a new hope for the fraternity at Brown. With the additions of Epsilon Line Hermanos Rafael Roberto Ruiz, Nelson Hern‡ndez, Gabriel Valdovino Guillory, Jeffrey Vargas, and Alfredo Achecar, the Zeta Chapter dramatically increased its presence at Brown. URI was also an equally strong campus and because of its increased numbers, on December 3, 1992, Hermanos Victor Capell‡n, Henry Ponciano, Henry Remolina, Boo Tuon, Christian Tolentino, and Huey Phan officially chartered the Mu Chapter at the University of Rhode Island.

Although separate chapters, The Hermanos of the Zeta and Mu Chapters would remain committed to providing support for one another. In the Spring of 1993 the Zeta and Mu Chapters combined their strength and energy when the Zeta Chapter prepared to host the fraternity's fifth annual National Convention. Over 200 Hermanos came to Brown's campus that February to discuss and vote on issues affecting the fraternity on a national level. Through the fund-raising efforts of the Zeta and Mu Chapter Hermanos, over $2200 was raised to cover the expenses for Convention. A successful weekend for the fraternity as a whole, and especially for the industrious Zeta and Mu Hermanos, it would also mark the last time that a Convention was fully organized and coordinated by an undergraduate chapter. Our National Conventions are currently organized and coordinated by our National Council and Board of Trustees, with assistance from the undergraduate chapter selected to host the Convention at their campus.

Following the National Convention of 1993, the Zeta Chapter Hermanos were able to examine two new areas of expansion. While attending the Harvard JFK School of Government, Hermano Paul Roldan (Iota Chapter, Alpha Line, Spring 1991), made contact with a potential interest group of undergraduates at Harvard University. With the help of Zeta Chapter founder Hermano Ephren Tinoco an informal meeting was set up with members of the interest group and Hermanos from the Zeta and Mu Chapters. Subsequently the interest group at Harvard would grow, and would be sponsored by the Zeta and Kappa Chapters with Hermano Paul as Pledge Dean, and Hermano Ephren as Academic Dean for the Harvard founding line.

Late in the Spring of 1993, Hermano Victor Capell‡n brought another interesting idea to the Hermanos of the Zeta and Mu Chapters; the establishment of a Graduate/Alumnae Chapter in Providence. The hope was to provide a space for Hermanos recently graduated from Brown and URI, residing locally, to meet and discuss ways for the fraternity to get involved with the Latino community on a professional and social level. It was also hoped that a graduate chapter could facilitate the introduction of the fraternity to Latino community members who had not had an opportunity to become involved with it at the undergraduate level.

With a list of prospectives in mind, Hermano Victor Capell‡n approached members of the National Council and Board of Trustees and outlined a new plan for the establishment of graduate chapters, and the intake of members at a graduate/professional level. Although several graduate chapters had already been established in New York, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, those had been established by alumni of undergraduate chapters. Hermano Victor envisioned a process whereby professionals and graduate students could be introduced to the fraternity and become a part of our Hermandad through a process more compatible with their lifestyles, professions and academic constraints. The experiment would begin in the Fall of 1993, with two men, alumni of URI; Roberto Pietersz and Johnny Polanco. Successfully completing their process, Hermanos Roberto Pietersz and Johnny Polanco, along with Hermanos JosŽ Rom‡n Polanco, Victor Capell‡n, Henry Ponciano, Henry Remolina, Huey Phan, would go on to found the Gamma Delta Chapter of the fraternity in Providence, RI. The Gamma Delta Chapter has helped lead the way for undergraduate chapters to become more involved in their community, by providing them with a resource which is in tune with local community leaders and needs.

A significant point in the Zeta Chapter’s history took place in the spring of 1997, when the first Hermanos from Providence College became part of the Chapter.

In the spring of 2001, the Zeta Chapter made history yet again, by adding its first Hermanos from Rhode Island College (Hermano Maximo Lora and Hermano Calvin Rodriguez) and reestablished a presence on the Johnson & Wales campus with a second Hermano (Hermano Argelis Nivar) from this university. Together, Hermanos from the four campuses, Brown, PC, RIC, and J&W, continue to uphold the legacy established by the thirteen founders of La Unidad Latina.

In the 13 years since its founding, the Zeta Chapter has maintained a tradition of commitment and dedication to the Latino communities of Brown, Providence College, Rhode Island College, and Johnson & Wales University. In addition to being involved in many projects within our schools, Lambda Upsilon Lambda has founded an undergraduate chapter at the University of Rhode Island and created a Graduate Chapter for alumni in the Providence Area. Lambda Upsilon Lambda has maintained a presence outside of the college scene by sponsoring a Little League Team in South Providence, assisting Quisqueya en Accion with their annual Festival Dominicano and remaining involved in activities of the Mu Chapter at the University of Rhode Island. A large number of our events are planned around the two biggest Latino Celebrations at Brown, Puerto Rican Cultural Week and Latino History Month.