A new multicultural sorority is looking to come to campus.
The Rising Organization of Señoritas Aspiring Sisterhood, is a chapter of Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority Inc.
“It’s specifically an organization that is culturally based for Latina women, celebrating who they are and the bonds of sisterhood that they can share on campus,” said Levi Harrel, dean of students.
Harrel said the organization first made contact with the school last fall.
“They had already reached out to a few current students and with that momentum were able to start having some information and recruitment events on campus,” Harrel said. “They took part in the involvement fair that happened at the beginning of the semester and are continuing to hold those information and recruitment sessions throughout the semester.”
Gloria Villarreal, the regional volunteer for Sigma Lambda Alpha sorority Inc., said a student from OCU contacted her about starting OCU ROSAS.
“One of the girls from OCU saw that the school doesn’t have any multicultural groups related to Greek Life,” Villarreal said. “She explained to us that there are some cultural organizations like HSA, NAS and BSA, but there wasn’t enough Hispanic representation and representation of other multicultural groups. We did our research and found the same thing. There is some representation, but not much, so that is why we decided to bring it to OCU.”
Villarreal said the organization provides a home away from home for Latina women.
“95% of all members in Texas and Oklahoma are first-generation students,” Villarreal said. “Latina women all know how it feels to be in college for the first time, and it’s our first time being far away from home. We are really close, so when it’s our first time getting out of the house, our parents don’t want to let us go. We feel like we are missing something because our family is far away. Sigma Lambda Alpha is a second home.”
Villarreal said the sorority isn’t as much a social organization as it is an organization for service.
“We always focus on bringing the school and community together,” she said. “We’re mostly Hispanic, so we can see what that community is lacking.”
Harrel said the organization’s next step to becoming official on campus is to engage members and write a constitution.
“At that point it really just follows the same practices as a regular student organization,” Harrel said. “They need three active members, and then with our student engagement office, they would register. Certainly, as they are attracting new members and students are becoming interested, we would love for them to go through that process as soon as possible.”
Villarreal said the organization had recruitment events set up on campus for last week, but due to the snow, the events were rescheduled. The next informational meeting is today at noon in the Shdeed Lounge.
Villarreal said prospective members must have a passion for community, academics, cultural awareness, and sisterhood.
Anette Barrios, music theater freshman, said she thinks bringing a multicultural sorority to campus would be a huge step.
“Our campus is pretty rich in its appreciation of the differences between us, but I think that Latinx representation in the Greek community isn’t as common,” Barrios said. “Though my schedule at the moment doesn’t allow for me to be involved in the kind of commitment that a sorority demands, I think this opportunity gives another chance to engage and make friends with like-minded, service-oriented women, most of which are Latina. That’s so incredibly important.”
For more information about upcoming events, students can follow their instagram page, @OCUROSAS.
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