The University’s Hispanic population accounts for 714 undergraduate students – 2.1 percent of the student population – but those numbers did not stop a handful of Latino students from starting up a second Latino fraternity at the University.

Juan Lazo, a sophomore from Peru, was one of the four founding brothers of the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Fraternidad Latina, Inc. Lazo said he wanted to be part of a brotherhood focused on community service in which he could display his Latino heritage.

“As a founding brother, we set the foundation for future lines,” Lazo said.

However, setting that foundation was not easy, Hector Sanchez, a junior from Mexico City and president of the chapter, said.

“It was a long process. We had a lot of requirements to fulfill, but we worked extremely hard,” he said. “We were able to become a chapter in less than a year, and it takes most interest groups two years to become a chapter.”

The Gamma Epsilon chapter at the University is the fraternity’s only chapter in the state of Georgia.

The Qasid Chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Inc., the other Latino fraternity on campus, is also its fraternity’s only chapter in the state.

Jheison Romain, president of Lambda Sigma Upsilon and junior from Colombia, said he was not surprised when he heard of the new Lambda Theta Phi chapter on campus.

“LSU is not for everyone. Our ideals and what we hold as being important might not be the same for other organizations,” Romain, a founding brother of LSU in 2006, said.

Both organizations are composed of seven members, and most of them are Latino.

Gabriel Zaragoza, treasurer for Lambda Theta Phi and sophomore from Atlanta, said anyone is welcome to join the Latino interest fraternity.

“We cater to everybody,” Zaragoza said, noting one of the founding brothers is Vietnamese.

Marilyn Delacruz, a member of the Latin sorority Lambda Theta Alpha and senior from the Dominican Republic, said she believes both organizations are good for the campus.

“It gives people an option to choose,” she said. “Lambda Theta Phi has done a lot, and they have created a name for themselves already.”

Marisela Martinez, director of multicultural services and programs, said, “Both groups have so few numbers but do so much. They’re small in numbers but huge in heart, and I’m proud of both of them. I think they’re awesome.”

Lambda Theta Phi plans to host “Salsa for Greeks” Wednesday at Memorial Hall. Sanchez said the event is open to all sororities and fraternities wanting to learn how to dance salsa.