Interview with a Facebook Fan

Posted:10/06/2010 

Our Facebook Fan, Niki Sosa, a senior at Colorado State University-Pueblo, is President of the organization Benefiting the Education of Latinas in Leadership, Academics, and Sisterhood, also known as B.E.L.L.A.S, established as a first step to help bring the sorority Lambda Theta Nu, Inc. to campus. All of the supporters who believe in this momentous step participate in fundraisers, volunteering, and other events. In an interview with Niki, she shares the accomplishments and goals she holds for the organization and the campus.


Why was it important for you to establish B.E.L.L.A.S on campus?

Niki: I attended the University of Colorado-Boulder before I transferred to Colorado State University-Pueblo. While at CU-Boulder, I pledged a Latina Sorority but due to health reasons was unable to complete the process. Once I arrived at CSU-Pueblo, it came to my attention that a Latina sorority hadn't been established. I was looking forward to joining an organization that fostered unity, sisterhood, and volunteerism. However, when I investigated other Greek Life on campus I discovered that we only had one sorority on campus. This was a traditional Greek Sorority, it wasn't what I was looking for and I refused to settle. I wished to bring a cultural aspect to Greek Life at CSU-Pueblo with a Latina sorority (non-traditional). A friend from CSU-Fort Collins told me about a sorority she was involved with, Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. Their values fell right in line with my own: academic excellence, community involvement, leadership, and sisterhood. Confident in what this sorority believed in, I began taking the necessary steps to expand the sorority on campus, one being to establish the group B.E.L.L.A.S on campus.

What is your mission and how does this organization benefit Latinos in college?

Niki: Our mission is to strive for academic excellence and community involvement. To ensure all members maintain a good academic record we will be implementing ten weekly study hours for the entire group. We also help Latinos become leaders on campus by encouraging involvement with campus events and community service. Our moral support is what keeps us strong. We want to help young women stay in college, stay academically strong, and stay driven towards benefiting the community; this is possible through our commitment to sisterhood and friendship. It is also worth noting that this organization welcomes women from all ethnic backgrounds, it is not limited to Latinos.

What was the process of becoming a new student organization like?

Niki: Becoming officially registered was simple, but it has been a challenge gaining interest and members. B.E.L.L.A.S requires a lot of hard work and a lot of time dedication; many girls are not up to the task.

Since the organization was implemented, what kind of projects and/or activities have you worked on?

Niki: Although we got off to a rocky start, after getting organized our initiatives on campus and in the community really picked up. An important asset of the organization is that we help the Pueblo community and not only the campus community. We have participated in a local event called the "Duck Stampede" (where ducks race in a pond). The money raised during this fundraiser goes toward purchasing dictionaries for every third grader in Pueblo. We have participated in a "Walk" on campus to raise money for CSU-Pueblo athletics.
This semester we plan on assisting with a conference entitled "Soy Unica Soy Latina" � geared toward creating positive self-image for young girls; and smaller events during Hispanic Heritage Month. We are hosting two blood drives and a month-long book drive to donate to a local school and/or library. We plan to pick up a lot of steam this semester and really make our presence known on campus and in the community.

In addition, the national sorority we are expanding is very involved with the community, holding annual philanthropic events such as an annual conference for young girls to encourage them to be strong leaders, a book drive and fundraiser to promote literacy in the Latino community on a national scale, along with helping a national non-profit.

Did you get a lot of support as you were bringing the organization to campus?

Niki: I'm actually surprised with the amount of support we have had. Members of the national sorority we are attempting to expand have been extremely supportive and are excited that we have chosen to expand Greek life with their sorority. On campus, our faculty adviser continues to help us with the expansion process, and the director of Student Activities has provided us with every useful resources available to make the process smoother.

When do you foresee the sorority established on CSU-Pueblo campus? How would you like to see it grow?

Niki: Our goal is to have a chapter of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. established on campus by spring 2012. Right now a lot of the girls are expected to graduate in 2012 or 2013 so we want to be strong enough so that when we are gone, the chapter can still thrive. My hopes are to have the chapter grow in number every year and establish its own original annual events on campus that differ from the requirements of the national organization. I would also love to see this organization as a trend-setter for other Greek organizations to come onto campus and would like more non-traditional and traditional Greeks to establish chapters at CSU-Pueblo.