̨Íåswag

University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) junior Diana Vela isn't afraid of being a trailblazer. In fact, she and 18 other female students plan to do just that by becoming the first Greek-letter organization on ̨Íåswag's Gainesville Campus.

Vela and the other women submitted their application to become potential candidates of the Inc. at ̨Íåswag in April 2018. On Aug. 2, Aubrey Frazier, director of fraternity and sorority life at ̨Íåswag, received an email from Wendy Castro, director of recruitment and retention for LTA.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and the National Expansion Committee, I am writing to inform you that we have decided to move forward with a fall 2018 official expansion group recognition at ̨Íåswag," the email read. "We feel the group has exemplified great work to begin the process of laying the groundwork to establish a chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha."

This marked the first tangible step to bring fraternity and sorority life to the Gainesville Campus.

"This summer, I made it my objective to be at all of the Gainesville orientations to talk about involvement opportunities in sororities and fraternities," Frazier said.

Currently, ̨Íåswag has an established fraternity and sorority system on its Dahlonega Campus with eight fraternities and six sororities. Frazier explained the misconception was students could not join unless they attended the Dahlonega Campus.

"That's not true," she said. "You just have to be a ̨Íåswag student."

During a Weeks of Welcome event, Frazier announced the formation of the LTA expansion group on the Gainesville Campus.

"We needed a bold organization to take a chance, and it was only fitting LTA was willing to do it since they are the first Latina sorority founded in the United States," she said.

The potential candidates of LTA have their work to do to become an official chapter. For example, the interest group must show it has the numbers to retain its status as a chapter. Vela is confident it will.

"There are a lot of ladies who have been waiting to join," Vela said, explaining they could not join because they were earning an associate degree. "But now they reached a bachelor's degree-seeking level and can join."

With several ready to join, the potential candidates of LTA can turn their focus on other requirements to become an official chapter with ̨Íåswag and its national organization. At ̨Íåswag, sorority members must maintain a 2.75 GPA, complete 12 credit hours, and be enrolled as full-time students in a baccalaureate program.

LTA also has its own requirements including recruiting more women, building strong bonds and engaging with local sisters. ̨Íåswag's chapter already has two of those covered.

At a preliminary workshop, about seven students attended. Two members of Georgia State's LTA sorority also are advising them.

"I think they have the opportunity to be very successful with our Latina population in Gainesville," Frazier said. "And we have had Dahlonega students who have chosen to join LTA in Gainesville as well."

The status of the LTA interest group will be determined at the end of the semester. Vela said while it is a big step, it is not the end goal.

"This also can be a window not just for us but to be a movement for more culturally based fraternal organizations on the Gainesville Campus," she said

Frazier agreed, adding she is in the process of bringing a historically African-American sorority to ̨Íåswag.

"We have 25 students interested and now we can pursue starting a group with the National Pan-Hellenic Council," she said.