The Birth of MGC

Black and White photo of Phi Iota Alpha members posing in front of a flag with their Greek letters.

Black and white photo of nine members who make up the Alpha Chapter standing in two lines in front of a banner that reads "The Conquistadors of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Alpha Chapter."

The origins of Latin Greek Letter Organizations (LGLOs) are largely debated as Lambda Theta Phi and Phi Iota Alpha both claim to be the first Latin fraternity.  

Phi Iota Alpha's (ΦΙΑ) history is hard to track, with the only documentation being found on their national website. They trace their history back to 1898 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. There, the Union Hispano Americana (UHA) was created as a secret society for Latin American students. Eventually, in 1921, three organizations, UHA, Pi Delta Phi (ΠΔΦ), and Phi Lambda Alpha (ΦΛΑ), merged and adopted the name Phi Lambda Alpha. Phi Lambda Alpha absorbed more student organizations until, in 1931, they merged with Sigma Iota (ΣΙ), a Latin-American Fraternity founded at Louisiana State University, becoming Phi Iota Alpha. However, by the 60s, Phi Iota Alpha was struggling to introduce new members and by 1979, all undergraduate chapters were inactive. In 1984, students at RPI sought to re-establish Phi Iota Alpha and officially revived it in 1987.

The 17 members that make the founding line of Lambda Theta Alpha all pose together in matching burgundy sweatshirts that feature their Greek letters.

In 1975, Latin students at New Jersey's Kean University sought Greek letter organizations that would “unite the Latino students." Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity (ΛΘΦ) and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority (ΛΘΑ) were subsequently founded, both identifying as the first Latin fraternity and sorority. Lambda Theta Phi was later recognized by the North American Interfraternity Conference as the first LGLO. Despite the debates over who came first, it’s important to remember that the purpose of these organizations is to unite Latinos, not divide them.

Four women, possibly the founding members of Mu Sigma Upsilon, huddle together smiling over their sorority emblem. They wear matching berets in their sorority color, Baby Blue.

Similarly, in the early 1980s, students of diverse backgrounds sought a place where they could foster connections with likeminded people. On November 21, 1981, at Rutgers University New Brunswick, Mu Sigma Upsilon (ΜΣΥ) Sorority, Incorporated was founded and became the first multicultural sorority in the nation. Multicultural Greek-lettered organizations are distinct from Latin organizations as they are not explicitly catered towards Latin students. However, Multicultural and Latin organizations, as well as Asian-interest organizations, fall under the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) umbrella within the university sphere.