BETA IOTA CHAPTER

In the fall of 2005, Hermano Christian Peña (IOTA Chapter, Spring 1998) serving as the National Vice President of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. set out to establish a chapter at the premier flagship public university of New England. In December of 2005, Miguel A. Ramirez (a freshman at the Avery Point campus at the time), met Peña in New York City and soon began to share the vision of establishing a chapter of La Unidad Latina at the University of Connecticut. In the fall of 2008, after several years of discussions and strategic planning meetings with the university administration, an interest group was formalized. This group of gentlemen would set out to redefine the mission of Latino fraternal service organizations at the University of Connecticut.

Alpha Line: La Patria Inmortal

Hermano Miguel A. Ramirez Jr.
Hermano Carlos Villa
Hermano Jonathan Cáez
Hermano Kenneth Dortche
Hermano Aaron Aguirre
Hermano Steve Basora

As interests, these men would create and execute enterprises that were unconventional at the time: obtaining 501(c) non-profit status to qualify for public funding/grants, developing an initiative with the Hartford Public School District to identify at-risk schools to implement mentoring programs and provide resources, developing mentor-based curriculum in conjunction with faculty, and designing a co-op/externship with the University of Connecticut School of Education to provide the Hartford Public School District with quality graduate students that would not only assist in educating its students but also be evaluated for potential educator positions. These gentlemen capitalized on these opportunities to be an example for other organizations to follow; their role was not to be limited to the immediate university community but to serve all underrepresented and marginalized communities.

The gentlemen went on to complete what was then called the Leadership Development Process (now deemed the New Member Education Process). On April 11th, 2009, six gentlemen became Hermanos of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

With Alpha Line's crossing came the successful establishment of the University of Connecticut Colony. It was then when the legacy of the chapter was started. Along with that legacy, Beta and Gamma lines went on to successfully charter the Incomparable Beta Iota Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. on July 21st, 2013.