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The Black Pearl

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Alpha Delta Chapter Undergraduates

Melissa Espinal President

Stephanie Correa Vice President

Sabrina Perez

Hermana of Alpha Delta Chapter Awarded the Adelfa Vera Award

Sudley Perez

Committee to Honor Puerto Rican Women Pays Tribute to Hermana Thay-Ling Moya Written by H. Denise Delgado, SLU Director of Public Relations New York, NY - On International Women’s Day, March 8th 2014, the Committee to Honor Puerto Rican Women paid tribute to Hermana Thay-Ling Moya of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. (SLU) with the Adelfa Vera Award. Thay-Ling was among the three honorees that received the ProLibertad “Adelfa Vera Award” recognizing the late Doña Vera’s commitment to awaken the Puerto Rican people to a future of freedom and social justice.

She was selected for organizing movements to bring awareness to the colonization of Puerto Rico by the United States, the unjust blockade on Cuba imposed by the United States, the gentrification of East Harlem and NYC, LGBTQ issues, and environmental advocacy. During the awards ceremony the Committee shared that they see Thay-Ling as “a young women who is the future of movements centered around Puerto Rican Independence and community advocacy”. They acknowledged her involvement with the Venceremos Brigrade, the campaign to free the Cuban 5 and Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez, and the NYC DREAM Act

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amongst other community movements.

Hermana Thay-Ling shares : ”I was beyond flattered that my own community would give me this recognition. I have admired and supported the movements happening within the immediate Puerto Rican community and throughout the diaspora for a long time, this includes everything from the campaigns to release our political prisoners to the fight against gentrification both in East Harlem and on the Island. I was also grateful that during the event my community collectively raised money towards an educational scholarship for me. What can I say, I love my community.”

Thay-Ling became a member of our Alpha Delta Chapter at SUNY Stony Brook University in Fall 2011. She graduated in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Vertebrate Biology. In July, she will move to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to pursue a M.S. degree in Marine Science with a specialization in Tropical Coral Reef Conservation.

For full article please visit: www.SigmaLambdaUpsilon.org

First Annual Alpha Delta Thanksgiving Brunch By: Yamilka Mena, Epsilon Line Astoria, New York— On November 23rd, 2013 something beautiful happened- loved ones came together to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with some of the women in our steadfastly growing chapter. Hermana Bianca and myself worked hard to ensure that our First Annual Thanksgiving Brunch was everything we envisioned it to be-- and it was.

From the fall leaves on the table, to the delicious cake topped with a small turkey, to the individual personalized gifts, the 3 plus hours we spent together cannot be described with words.

We enjoyed the tasty food from Mojave Restaurant in Astoria, Queens while appreciating the company of 5 generations of Alpha Delta pledge classes who brought along boyfriends, husbands, grandparents and yes, even children. We laughed, we cried, and most importantly: we loved.

When sharing the gifts that Bianca and I personalized for each Hermana present, we once again realized the shared love we have, not only for our chapter, but each other and how this love truly lasts Hasta La Muerte. It was a Saturday to remember and we hope to continue these traditions with all of our future Hermanas.

New Hermanas at Alpha Delta My name is Melissa Espinal and I pledged Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. in Fall 2013. I am currently the President of the Alpha Delta Chapter and it has been a blessing to become a part of such an empowering organization. I found my niche with these strong, hardworking women and I’m lucky to call them my Hermanas. I will continue to work with my chapter and show Stony Brook campus what we women have to offer our community.

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Voto Latino By: SUCH AND SUCH, SUCH AND SUCH LINE Voto Latino is a nonpartisan organization that empowers Latinos to claim a better future for themselves and their community. The organization hopes to push for a higher Latino vote through the belief that Latino issues are American issues.

The fact is that there are roughly 15 million American Latino youth in the U.S., but only a small fraction vote.

Yet, Latinos make up more than 10% of the electorate in 11 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada and Texas. Thus, on September 30th, 2012, Voto Latino volunteers and supporters (including Hermanas) hosted tables at El Megaton Mundial De Polito Vega Concert at Citi Field. Hermanas interacted with participants and not only encouraged them to vote but also assisted in filling out voter registration forms. Many people admitted that they had not registered because they could not understand the form. With some assistance, they were able to successfully do so and contributed to one of the highest percentages of Latino voters ever. DO WE HAVE ANY HARD NUMBERS? BY HOW MUCH DID THE NUMBERS INCREASE? IS THIS A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED?

kick start the VDay movement. This event, which was a form of open mic night, allowed people to express their thoughts and empower women through poetry, spoBy: Sudley Perez, Iota Line ken word, and music.

Amongst the performers were two of Annually, the Alpha Delta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Lati- our very own Hermanas, Hermana Stephanie Correa, Theta nas Unidas Sorority, Inc. along with Line, and Hermana Sudley Perez, Iota various other organizations help sponsor The Vagina Line. Hermana Stephanie recited a poem titled Blue Rose, which Monologues. On February 26, 2014, the Center of Pre- expressed her longing and adoration of a loved one who has passed away. vention and Outreach (CPO) spearheaded their opening event “Read My Her poem was so personal and empowering, that many of the audience Lips” of the 2014 VDay movement, members could not help but express which leads up to The Vagina Monologues. Taking place in the Tabler Arts how touched they felt. Hermana Center, Read My Lips was a night full Sudley recited a spoken word piece titled My Culture. In this piece, Herof emotion and excitement that inspired the audience and performers to mana Sudley expressed her love and

“Read My Lips”:

An Hermana Response

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passion for the Caribbean culture and in what way culture can empower women. Although the night’s theme was about love, Hermana Sudley’s spoken word brought a different perspective on women’s empowerment.

These Hermanas left an indelible mark on the event, making Read My Lips an unforgettable experience. Without a doubt, Read My Lips was a great way to open up the 2014 Vagina Monologue weekend.

Post Grad: The Truth About Life After Graduation By: Sudley Perez, Iota Line Do you know what you are doing after you graduate from college? What have you done to successfully execute your plans? What will you do to progress further in endeavors? In our program titled Post Grad: The Truth About Life After Graduation, which took place on SUCH AND SUCH DATE, we discussed the challenges faced by college graduates. We also discussed the various solutions on how to avoid or face those challenges that will help you become successful in the work force.

The host, Hermana Sudley, educated her audience on the challenges they may face after graduation, including challenges in the work force, financial obstacles, as well as personal trials. Many college graduates are unaware of these challenges and when it comes time to step into the real world they realize that they were perhaps unprepared. It was Hermana Sudley’s goal to educate and provide awareness of common pitfalls experienced by recent graduates, as well as offer tips to avoid them. One resource that is currently underused, according to the guest speaker, Jaqueline Pelaez, is the Career Center, located in the main library. The Career Center offers support with building resumes and hosting internship and work fairs, and also hosts etiquette dinners. Pelaez, a graduate student intern at the Career Center, shared information, which benefited all attendees.

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Hermana Melany made it on TV AGAIN! On BLANKBLANKBLANK she performed with Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monae and Kelly Rowland on Black Girls Rock which aired on BET.

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HastaLa Muerte Hermana Letier Santana Hermana Stacy Diaz

Rudsena

Chapter Achievements

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Starting in the Fall of 2001, a group of women were determined to find a sorority that matched their goals and ideals. Not finding such a group on their campus, they began to research other organizations and found what they were looking for in Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. The journey to establish a chapter of this amazing Hermandad at Stony Brook University officially began in the Spring of 2002. Through the years, several dedicated women worked tirelessly alongside equally dedicated Hermanas.

Alpha Delta Chapter– Stony Brook University Student Activities Center, Rm 218 Stony Brook, NY 11794 SLU.AlphaDelta@gmail.com

Special Thanks: H. Sade Ortiz H. Patricia Peralta

H. Caroline Rodriguez H. Letier Santana H. Mariely Taveras

After 3 long years, a group of nine women successfully established the Alpha Delta Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. at Stony Brook University in the Spring of 2005. The women who make up the Alpha line of the Alpha Delta Chapter are: Hermana Bianca “Otorgada” Baquerizo Hermana Laura “Batalladora” Soriano Hermana Elizabeth “Certidumbre” Guerra Hermana Sally “Visionaria” Mercedes Hermana Melany “Incondicional” Centeno Hermana Anadilia “Nítida” Colón Hermana Evelyn “Valorada” Ortiz Hermana Jennie “Legendaria” Morel

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