A look inside Rider’s Multicultural Greek Council
By Mollie Weiss
Coming to college looks different for everyone. For first-generation students, transfer students or simply students looking to find their people, one of the most valuable parts of college can be finding community, which can be done through Greek Life.
The Multicultural Greek Council at Rider includes Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.
Founded at Rider in 1991 as the Iota chapter, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. supports leadership opportunities and brotherhood. They promote their chapter philanthropy through community awareness and fundraising for One Simple Wish, a local organization that grants wishes to children and young adults affected by foster care, neglect, and family crises.
Also founded at Rider in 1991 as the Iota chapter, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. fosters community service and sisterhood. The chapter recently celebrated their university anniversary of 35 years on Nov. 3. The organization spreads awareness while fundraising for research and treatment that study pediatric cancers and diseases, supporting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., founded at Rider in 2009, empowers women by promoting sisterhood and creating community. The organization fundraises and spreads awareness for its national philanthropy, Girls Inc., which helps young girls from low-income or marginalized communities by providing resources to build confidence for their future careers and lives.
The multicultural Greek organizations on campus have been able to support diversity and raise cultural awareness.
“Being able to bring that sense of inclusion to campus through my organization is something I really enjoy,” said Jose Torres, a senior music production major.
Torres joined Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. in spring 2025 and serves as public relations chair for the Rider DominiRicans club, with leadership opportunities being highly offered.
He also mentioned how these Greek organizations are very much rooted in culture. Specifically, when it comes to strolling or saluting at events like Meet the Greeks and the Yard Show, Torres explained how it is not strictly performance based, saying, “Those came to be through different aspects of our culture. Not only carrying the torch and keeping our culture alive, but also bringing it to campus as well.”
Another misconception addressed was that students have to be Hispanic or Latino to join these organizations; in reality, this is not a requirement. “We’re open to all,” said Lizbeth Rivas, a first-generation transfer student and senior political science major.
Rivas joined Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., in spring 2025 as a legacy and serves as the current president of the Iota chapter, as well as the chief administrator of MGC.
She explained how joining and getting involved gave her a smoother transfer experience and helped create community for her at Rider.
Even though councils tend to be smaller, they put themselves out there. Most importantly, all the councils support one another.
“We’re all family, and that’s how I consider everybody in MGC,” Rivas said.
Vivian Velasquez Banegas, a senior healthcare management major and first-generation student, added, “Having a community that I can advocate for and stand on, knowing that I’m doing programs and community service that specifically represents the multicultural community, that’s very rewarding for me.”
Velasquez Banegas joined Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. in spring 2024, in which she is current treasurer and secretary. She is also the current president of the Rider University Greek Council, as well as the past president of MGC.
She acknowledged the barriers these organizations have faced, including fighting against discrimination and racism, as well as how far they have come and will continue to go.
Velasquez Banegas said, “It’s more than just the collegiate experience. This is genuinely something that’s for life.”
