It took a 500-page proposal and more than a year of hard work, but early last week, Sigma Lambda Gamma was recognized as Northwestern’s first Latina-based Greek organization.

The Tau Alpha chapter of the national sorority, known to its 13 NU members as SLG or Gamma, was founded at NU in February 2000.

SLG members said their chapter already was strong, but university recognition created opportunities that the sorority didn’t have as an unaffiliated organization.

“The greatest advantage we got out of being recognized at NU is that we can be involved in campus,” said Joy Matias, SLG vice president. “We can reserve rooms now; we can be involved in campus activities with other groups now. Now our presence can be seen.”

The members said the recognition process was lengthy because NU guidelines formerly prohibited groups not affiliated with the Panhellenic Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council or other national Greek associations from gaining status as an official group on campus.

Last year, NU changed its rules to allow recognition of cultural groups in its Greek system.

Administrators said they hope including SLG in the Greek community will add greater diversity to what they called an already diverse Greek system.

“It’s great to recognize an organization that has a cultural mission but also wants to be involved in a more traditionally fraternal way,” said Steve Dealph, associate director for Greek affairs.

SLG is the second Latino student group to be recognized at NU, said Laura Labauve-Maher, acting coordinator for Hispanic/Latino Student Services. Alianza was the first Latino group to gain recognition at NU.

“I think it’s important to the greater community in that it gives students more options when looking at the Greek community and how to get involved on campus,” Labauve-Maher said. “We have a fair amount of Hispanics in the sorority system already, but creating an ethnic Greek group widens the horizon of the entire Greek system.”

Michelle Noda, SLG president, said the recognition process wasn’t easy.

“We had to submit a petition that included letters from NU alumni saying they would have appreciated a group like ours,” said Noda, a Weinberg junior. “We had to give them our meeting minutes and plans for the future. Everything ended up being more than 500 pages.”

Though SLG is Latina-based, the group welcomes women from all cultures, Noda said.

“We’re a group of women dedicated to achieving the principles that our sorority sets out,” she said. “We’re all so different. Everybody brings something, and we learn a lot from each other culturally and otherwise. We’ve had girls who weren’t Latina and we were just as close.”

Matias, a Weinberg junior, said the sorority is concentrating on continuing its sisterhood and service activities and getting involved on campus.

“Right now our biggest goal is to work with other Greeks and other organizations, especially when they have cultural events,” said Matias.

SLG isn’t the only cultural organization looking to get its name out on campus. Omega Delta Phi, a Latino fraternity that recently achieved national chapter status, is trying to gain university recognition.

“We’ve started making contact with university officials,” said Carlos Robles, secretary of the fraternity. “It’s our first step.”

Robles, a McCormick sophomore, said the fraternity has been at NU for about two years.

“Without recognition there’s not much we can do to be known on campus,” he said. “We’re just trying to get our name out.”

Dealph said NU officials are looking into starting a cultural Greek umbrella organization comparable to Panhel, Interfraternity Council or NPHC to work with ethnic Greek groups.

“We’re just trying to start this process slowly so we can provide resources and support to all the groups,” Dealph said.

Leslie Stryczek, SLG national vice president of expansion, said university recognition is key for chapters to achieve their goals.

“The girls at Northwestern are taking the right steps into promoting the multicultural aspect of SLG” said Stryczek, a DePaul University alumna. “Recognition will help them establish a reputation and make their mark on campus.”

Panhel members at NU welcome the opportunity to work with SLG, said Panhel President Sarah Personette.

“It’s a positive step forward with regards to diversity within the entire Greek community,” said Personette, a Weinberg senior. “If you step back and survey the entire Greek scene — Panhel, NPHC, IFC, SLG and other cultural fraternities and sororities — the Greek population ends up representing one of the most diverse audiences and constituencies on campus.”