The evening kicked off with a unity stroll. One by one, the dancers snaked along in a line, moving slowly at first and picking up pace as the music’s beat grew faster. Bodies jumped, snapped and locked as the tempo ebbed back and forth. Arms waved gracefully and the room chorused with esprit de corps. There were seven dancers strolling in one line, but altogether they represented the 10 sororities and fraternities that make up the Multicultural Greek Council. 

The MGC held its third annual Rooted in Culture event on Thursday night as an opportunity for the 10 Greek Life organizations under the MGC umbrella to showcase themselves and to celebrate diversity and unity among each other. The 10 Greek Life organizations include: Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, Beta Gamma Nu Fraternity, Alpha Phi Gamma Sorority, Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority and Lambda Theta Nu Sorority.

Up until 2009, the Multicultural Greek Council was known as the Latino Greek Council, and it was focused on the Latino Greek Life community. When a number of Greek Life organizations under their banner claimed non-Latino identities, the council chose to remodel itself as the Multicultural Greek Council so as to properly integrate those organizations.

Since then, the MGC’s purpose has been to “develop relationships among its members to inspire a culture of trust, support, understanding, dedication, commitment, rapport and friendship,” according to MGC Vice President of Public Relations Cisco Mora, a statement which seemed to resonate with his fellow members. 

“We are all trying to find a family here at CSU, because it is a harder environment to be in, especially when you’re one of the minorities on campus,” said Viri Gonzalez, a member of the Lambda Theta Nu sorority

and a junior majoring in food science. “At the end of the day, we are all here because we’re all part of this bigger family that’s bigger than our chapters.”

While the council’s primary goal is to unite these diverse groups, each Greek Life organization under the MGC fold is a unique entity unto themselves. Some organizations, such as the Beta Gamma Nu fraternity, stress brotherhood more than anything else.

“We say that we create young men into gentlemen,” said senior Louis Estrada, vice president of the Beta Gamma Nu fraternity. “You look at us on campus and people are like, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen guys hug each other or jump on each other’s backs in public.’ It’s out of love, and these guys have given me a place to cry and a place to laugh.”