Before the Zeta Chapter
In the late 1980s, Latino students at Brown University comprised a much smaller population than other minority groups. As a result many Latinos felt that there were very few venues or social events which catered to them or adequately represented their cultures. In order to "fit in", students felt that they had to make their niche in either the African-American or White communities.
Adding to this dilemma, Latino organizations were experiencing personal conflicts among individual members and as a result were becoming less of a supportive resource for Latino students. As divisions grew, the Latino organizations were also becoming more and more isolated from the Latino communities of Providence, Rhode Island.
Our chapter founders felt a Latino-based fraternity would be the perfect medium to unite the fragmented community and serve as a link between college students and the Providence Latino community through its community initiatives.
The founders of the Zeta Chapter were a group of men interested in doing away with this divisiveness and embraced the idea of being brothers in order to help unite the campus in order to serve the Latino community both on and off campus. The founders represented a diverse group of men whose ethnic origins were Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, and Filipino.
On November 5, 1989, the Zeta Chapter was founded by seven men:
Kenneth Padilla (Brown ’92)
Rick Manuel Quiles (Brown ’90)
Ephren Tinoco (Brown ’92)
José Román Polanco(Brown ’92)
Victor Xavier Cerda (Brown ’92)
Gerardo Tristan Sánchez (Brown ’92)
Marcus Souza Soares (Brown ’92)
The Legacy Begi
ns
In October of 1989, the Founding Hermanos performed a community service project to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Hugo. They helped the National Guard send clothes and other aid to the victims of the devastating hurricane which struck Puerto Rico that Fall, severely damaging over 80% of the island.
For the chapter’s first official event, the Hermanos co-sponsored with FEP (La Federación de Estudiantes Puertorriqueños) to celebrate Puerto Rican Cultural Week with a party on November 17, 1989.
The following year, the Hermanos took the mission of the Fraternity into Providence’s Latino community, building relationships with local leaders and organizations that are still strong today. Hermanos took part in the "Trykes for Tykes" fund-raiser, raising money for local youth in need, and began working with local community service programs involving urban youth.
Programs such as Times2 (the precursor to Times2 Academy) and Puentes, allowed Hermanos to serve as mentors and role models to elementary school children. These relationships helped to bridge a cultural divide that existed between the Brown Latino community and the Greater Providence Latino community.
Beyond the Van Wickle 
Gates - Years of Expansion
The Zeta Chapter was the first LUL chapter in the New England region. As a result many of the region’s other chapters were founded by Zeta Chapter brothers. The early to mid 1990s was a period of rapid growth within the fraternity and Zeta Chapter did its part by bringing the fraternity to campuses throughout the New England Region. Some chapters founded by Zeta Hermanos include:
Yale University – Est. 1992
University of Rhode Island – Est. 1992
Harvard University – Est. 1994
Wesleyan University – Est. 1995
Dartmouth College – Est. 1997
Zeta + Mu = Zu
As early as the second pledge class of the chapter, Zeta Chapter Hermanos looked beyond Brown University to establish relationships and bonds with Latinos at other colleges and universities. In the early years, the Zeta Chapter consisted of Brown University and the University of Rhode Island.
But the half hour drive between campuses made coordinating events and meetings difficult. After much thought, Hermanos began exploring the idea of making URI its own chapter. On December 3, 1992, Zeta Hermanos attending the University of Rhode Island secured a charter at the school officially creating the Mu Chapter. The Chartering Mu Hermanos were:
Victor Francisco Capellán
Henry Ponciano
Henry Remolina
Jayaboo Thangkeo
Christian Tolentino
Huey Phan
Although today both are separate chapters, members continue to affectionately refer to Rhode Island as the Zu Chapter in recognition of the strong history they share. In the Spring of 1993 the Zeta and Mu Chapters combined their strength and energy to host the fraternity's 5th annual National Convention at Brown University. Over 200 Hermanos attended convention to discuss and vote on issues affecting the fraternity on a national level. Through the fund-raising efforts of the Zeta and Mu Chapter Hermanos, over $2200 was raised to cover the expenses for convention.
Manifest Destino – E
xpansion as a City Chapter
But the Zeta Chapter was destined to become a city chapter once again. In 1994, the first brother from Johnson & Wales University became a member. Future Hermanos on that campus would go on to help found the Dominican Student Association as a vehicle for Latino student involvement outside of the Greek system. Hermanos were instrumental in creating DSA’s annual semi-formal tradition, La Elegancia as well as the club’s annual spring break service trip to the Dominican Republic. Hermanos have also held numerous positions on campus as DSA executive board members, RAs, and working in the CBCSI.
In the Spring of 1997, the Zeta Chapter expanded to include Providence College as a member school. Since PC does not have a Greek system, the founders at the school still made the commitment to join the fraternity knowing that they would never have official campus recognition by the administration. Since joining the chapter, PC Hermanos have held leadership positions in the Friars Club, Admissions Ambassadors, Asian American Society, ROTC, PC Pals, and Residence Life as RAs. Hermanos helped to establish the Balfour Center Peer Mentoring Program which pairs incoming students of color with a mentor to provide academic support and guidance as they make the transition to college.
More recently, Hermanos helped to create Amigos Unidos’ Sabor Latino tradition in 2004. In 2006, Hermanos led a student movement at PC to revisit a security memo policy that only described assailants as “black” or “Hispanic” males. The new policy now gives a full description of suspects involved in off-campus crimes.
In 2001, the Zeta Chapter further expanded by incorporating Rhode Island College as a member school, making LUL the first fraternity to be recognized on that campus. Since 2001, RIC Hermanos have also held numerous leadership positions in the Latin American Student Organization and serving as RAs, peer councilors, and on the RIC faculty.
“I’m a Professional!” – The Founding of the Gamma Delta Graduate ChapterWith many of the founding Zeta chapter Hermanos having recently graduated, Victor Capellán (URI ’92) spearheaded the establishment of a Graduate Chapter in Providence, Rhode Island in the Spring of 1993.
A handful of graduate chapters had already been established in New York, Philadelphia, and Buffalo by alumni of undergraduate chapters. Victor approached members of the National Council and Board of Trustees and outlined a new plan for the establishment of graduate chapters, and the intake of members at a graduate/professional level. Victor envisioned a process whereby professionals and graduate students could be introduced to the fraternity and become a part of our Hermandad through a process more compatible with their lifestyles, professions and academic constraints.
In the Fall of 1993, Roberto Pietersz and Johnny Polanco, both URI Alumni, successfully completed the fraternity’s first ever graduate intake process. Soon after they would go on to found the Gamma Delta Chapter of the fraternity in Providence, RI.
Gamma Delta Chartering Hermanos:
Henry Ponciano
Henry Remolina
Johnny Polanco
José Román Polanco
Huey Phan
Roberto Pietersz
Victor Capellán
A National PresenceOver the years (especially in the early years) Zeta Chapter Alumni have participated in guiding the development and growth of the fraternity by taking on leadership roles on a national level within LUL. Seven Zeta Alumni have served on the fraternity’s national council, board of trustees, or regional board.
Kenneth Padilla (Fall 1989) – National Council Board of Trustees
Rick Quiles (Fall 1989) –National Council Board of Trustees
José Polanco (Fall 1989) – Former National Council President
Victor Capellán (Fall 1990) – National Council Board of Trustees
Jeffrey Vargas (Fall 1992) – Former National Council President
Maximo Lora (Spring 2001) – New England Regional Director/Area Process Director, 2005 – 2007
Raymond Gómez (Spring 2003) New England Associate Regional Director, 2007 - 2009
The New Englan
d Step/Stroll TeamZeta Chapter Hermanos were instrumental in founding the New England StepStroll Team (NEST). In September 1991, chapter Hermanos competed in the first Delta Sigma Theta Stroll Competition against several other fraternities, and would go on to win first place. In January of 1994, Hermanos returned to the competition to capture their second trophy.
In early 2003, four Rhode Island Hermanos revived NEST and competed in competitions throughout the Northeast. Those Hermanos were:
Lazaro Camacho, Jr. (Spring 2000)
Ramón Espaillat (Fall 2000)
Maximo Lora (Spring 2001)
Calvin Rodríguez (Spring 2001)
In February of 2003, these Hermanos competed in their first competition at Iota Phi Theta’s annual Step Show at Rhode Island College. The Hermanos represented the only Latino-based fraternity and finished in third place. The next year, NEST was invited to perform at Alpha Phi Alpha‘s Annual Step Show at Dartmouth College’s Green Key weekend, Latino
Step at SUNY Albany and SUNY Buffalo in 2004.
In 2005, NEST competed in Chi Upsilon Sigma’s Annual Exposure Stroll Competition at the University of Rhode Island and came in first place. NEST repeated as first place champions in 2006.
008, The Zeta Chapter expanded to Bryant University and welcomed its 49th member, José Batista (El Abacoa) to the chapter.
008, The Zeta Chapter expanded to Bryant University and welcomed its 49th member, José Batista (El Abacoa) to the chapter.
