SLU Raices 2004

October 15, 2004

SLU Kicked Off the Year With RAICES (ROOTS):
Focusing on the "Impact of the Latino Vote"

New York, NY - People from all over rocked the vote with Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. as chapters across the country conducted RAICES (ROOTS), promoting and celebrating the Latino heritage and culture.

Each year, Sigma Lambda Upsilon is proud to sponsor a National RAICES Week in September. It is a sorority-wide event that each chapter participates in annually at their respective campus and/or community.

Every chapter has a minimum of four events that focuses on cultural enrichment, women's issues, community service and scholarship and the events are based on a yearly theme. Past themes included: Caution Curves Ahead: Body Image and the Latino Culture (2003) and Latino Colorism: "Blanquitas" vs. "Trigueñas" (2002). This years theme is based on voting and is titled Tipping the Scale: "The Impact of the Latino Vote".

With a population estimated at over 31 million and the top ten status with Latino population comprising 40% of the electoral votes for the US President, the Latino population will play a decisive role in the 2004 elections. The Latino Vote could decide who is the next president of the United Status and will influence many state and local elections.

"Because this year's election is crucial for our future, contributing your ballot is imperative; that's why the sorority chose to focus on voting as their RAICES theme. This will allow for each chapter and each Hermana to assist in educating, promoting, and acknowledging the importance of voting. We are determined to get people to vote and educate them how they go about voting," said Hermana Christine Morillo, National Judicial Board Member.

Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. was founded on December 1, 1987 at Binghamton University as an organization that would provide sisterhood and support while also promoting academic achievement, service to the community and cultural enrichment. Almost seventeen years since its establishment, the organization has expanded to 30 schools across the country, touching the lives of more than 300 women.

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