THE HISTORY OF
LAMBDA THETA PHI LATIN FRATERNITY, INC. 

Founding Father Agustín García, who had become a prominent Latino student due to his election into the student government, spearheaded meetings to address the issue of Latino unity among students. Through this, they were able to conclude that their main objectives were to become politically active and conscious while uniting all Latinos despite national origin. At a meeting on November 11, 1975, Founding Father García proposed the idea of founding a fraternity. He had experience working with the college administration and student government, to which he suggested that a fraternity would establish a brotherhood among Latino students while receiving recognition from the university. As a result, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. was founded and became the first "Latino" fraternity in the nation. 

Throughout the process of establishing Lambda, the brothers received guidance from two members of the Kean College faculty/administration. Specifically, Dr. Cayetano J. Socarrás, who passed away on January 24, 1994 and José Quiles, recognized within the brotherhood as the Fraternal Fathers of Lambda Theta Phi. These men provided support and guidance at integral points of Lambda's establishment and growth. For example, Fraternal Father Socarrás assisted in designing the original Lambda shield in 1976 due to his experience with heraldry. On the other hand, Fraternal Father Quiles described his role as a "technical resource" given that he helped the organization fit into the Greek system at Kean College through Lambda's organization and structure. 

Integral aspects of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. were established after receiving recognition as a fraternity. The "culture" of Lambda was created by selecting Brotherhood Brown and Pure White as fraternity colors, incorporating the "Chivalry Above Self" motto, choosing the white carnation as the Fraternity's flower, creating traditional salutes and chants, and, most controversially, the adoption of the Conquistador as a symbol. The concept of the Conquistador stems from the Spanish crown, as they came to the Americas in the sixteenth century and committed genocide of indigenous populations. Why, then, would our Founders adopt the Conquistador as a symbol of our brotherhood? The literal definition of the term, as opposed to the role the Conquistador played in our history, was the overriding consideration: one who conquers; one who overcomes; one who triumphs. A Lambda man is not created overnight, and he must withstand the obstacles presented before him to conquer his surroundings and character to act as an exemplar for his peers.