Not many colliegettes can say that they started a sorority on their campus but that is just what UNC-Chapel Hill senior, Wendy Tapia, did during her sophomore year of college. Wendy Tapia became interested in Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. after researching the organization and meeting the organization’s awesome alumni. It takes strength, leadership, and determination to continue and uphold the legacy of Lambda Pi Chi. The road to building the sorority was not an easy one but Wendy Tapia managed to push forward along with balancing her Political Science major.
Lambda Pi Chi was originally founded on UNC- Chapel Hill’s campus Oct. 30, 1999 but had become dormant because all of the women who were in the sorority graduated. Tapia decided to reestablish the organization on the UNC-CH campus during the spring semester of 2010. She and her fellow line sister had to contact the Community Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Greek Alliance Council to gain approval and recognition as a sorority on campus. Through this sorority, Tapia will leave her footprint on the campus of UNC- Chapel Hill for years to come.
HC: Can you tell me a little bit about Lambda Pi Chi?
Wendy: We were the first Latina based organization founded on an Ivy League institution. We were founded at Cornell University on April 16, 1988. We were founded on the ideals of the community, the Latino culture and sisterhood. Our two national philanthropies revolve around HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention and educational disparities within minority communities.
HC: What interested you about Lambda Pi Chi and what made you want to start the organization at UNC?
Wendy: LPC had been on UNC’s campus before I came on the university but it was dormant because the women had graduated. What attracted me were the alumni I met and they were all doing amazing things with their lives. They were doctors, lawyers, Corps members of Teach for America program, PhD candidates. It was inspiring because all of these really successful women had one thing in common and that was the network they had built within their sorority.
HC: What was the experience of starting a sorority on campus like?
Wendy: There were a few of upperclassmen who were familiar with LPC from when it had been on campus earlier and they had really good things to say about the women who had been in the sorority before. It seemed a bit of a daunting task because my line sister, Christina Jusino, and I had big shoes to fill. But my experience with it has been very positive; I have gotten to meet several great people through the process of reinitiating our sorority on campus. The process overall has helped shape me into a better leader, a public speaker, organizer, and a student.
HC: How has the organization benefitted UNC?
Wendy: Through our philanthropy projects, we’ve done a lot of work with the Scholars’ Latino Initiative which is a program at UNC that mentors gifted Latino high school students and a lot of the students have actually become students at UNC. We’ve also done several campaigns for HIV/AIDS prevention and we are also planning a “Get Yourself Tested” campaign, we’ve also held several programs in which we have identified and evaluated the existing  and emerging roles of Latina women on our campus.
HC: What kind of events does Lambda Pi Chi host?
Wendy: All of our events revolve mainly around the vision and goals of our organization. Which basically revolve around woman empowerment, narrowing the disparity gap within minority education pools and we do several fundraising events for local HIV/AIDS awareness programs in North Carolina.
HC: What’s your favorite thing about Lambda Pi Chi?
Wendy: I think that it is based very strongly on community service. a lot of the things that I was part of before joining the organization fit the vision and goals of the organization, so our organization’s priorities align with mine.
HC: What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you during your Lambda Pi Chi experience?
Wendy: Traveling is a big component of being in a sorority so that you can meet other sorority members across the country. Over the summer we were required to go to Boston for our national convention. At the end of the conventions we always have a banquet where some women are recognized for their accomplishments. This year I was given the community service award for my work with Latinos and education. Working through Scholars’ Latino Initiative and other organizations involve helping Latinos improve their education.
HC: Do you have a brother organization?
Wendy: We don’t have a brother organization.
HC: Why not?
Wendy:Â Our organization was founded by, and for women. But, we do work extensively with many Greek-lettered organizations, both Sororities and Fraternities.
HC: What do you want to do after graduation?
Wendy: After graduation I want to get a Master’s in Public Policy and see where life takes me from there. I’m in the process of applying to Graduate programs and to a few jobs here and there.
HC: What other organizations are you involved in?
Wendy: I’m a mentor in the Scholars’ Latino Initiative, I’m also the Parental Involvement Committee co-chair for the program. I’m also involved in Students United for Immigrant Equality.
HC: Lastly, what advice would you give to other people who would like to start a sorority/fraternity on campus?
Wendy: I would definitely make sure that the organization is a good fit for all of the members who are involved starting the organization. Ensure that you uphold yourself to a certain level of integrity, dignity, and respect because from the moment that you become part of a Greek organization, you become a walking billboard for that organization.
Sources:
Wendy Tapia (photo): Tapia, http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1977733487826&set=a.1578282821809.2075103.1377789532&type=3&theater
Wendy Tapia (photo): Tapia, http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1051570974342&set=a.1578282821809.2075103.1377789532&type=3&theater