Nu Sigma Beta

Nu Sigma Beta Fraternity (ΝΣΒ) is a Puerto Rican fraternity. It was established in 1937 at the University of Puerto Rico by several young students from diverse backgrounds.

Nu Sigma Beta
ΝΣΒ
Founded	1937; 86 years ago (1937) University of Puerto Rico
Type	Social
Affiliation	CIPFI
Scope	Puerto Rico United States Dominican Republic
Colors	White, Blue Royal, Gold
Nickname	la Nu Sigma
Headquarters	San Juan Puerto Rico
Website	Nu Sigma Beta homepage

History

Among the founding members were: Carlos M. Vidal, Jafet Ramirez Ledesma, Jose Antonio Luiña, Jose Enrique Del Valle, Juan Pedrosa, Luis A. Berrios, Pedro Urbiztondo, Pedro A. Mattei, Ruben Gaztambide Arrillaga, Baltasar Quinones Elias, Edwin Cortes Garcia, among others.

These members came together on the Rio Piedras Campus and decided to form their own social fraternity based on the principles of appreciation, respect, and tolerance, among other qualities. Believing this, they established a non-profit organization with the goal of developing helpful community-oriented citizens, promoting sincere friendship and a sense of brotherhood. Nu Sigma Beta was established with a written constitution.

Shortly after it was established, they celebrated their first initiation ceremony. During this ceremony, 7 students joined them. The fraternity quickly expanded and grew in numbers. By 1939, the fraternity opened its second chapter at the UPR-Mayaguez formerly known as CAAM.^[1] This chapter became known as the Beta chapter and the San Juan chapter became the Alpha chapter. The Fraternity has continually grown and expanded to encompass almost all institutions of higher learning within Puerto Rico and some beyond.^{[citation needed]} Today, more than 70 years after its founding, there have been and/or are chapters in the Dominican Republic and the United States. The fraternity is in the process of opening chapters in places such as Cornell University and others. Recently the fraternity organized the reopening of the Nu chapter at the Universidad Central del Este at San Pedro de Macorís There are also chapters in the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao^[2] and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.^[3]

Expansion

The fraternity's need to be organized at a central level, due to its expanding nature, led it to be divided into Zones and chapters. Those still in college are inducted into chapters, while those who are not in college are inducted into zones. Chapter members are transferred into zones upon completing their undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies. The Fraternity is governed by a Presiding or Executive committee, composed primarily of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, General Secretary, and General Treasurer. It also has a separate body acting as the legislative and judicial branch, simultaneously. The Supreme Council is presided by the Executive Secretary. The governing bodies can only take action based on the rules of the fraternity, but the executive decision relies in the General Assembly, which is composed of zone and chapter delegates. The Constitution may only be amended in General Assembly.

Philanthropy

The fraternity is dedicated to the creation of outstanding citizens in their community. As a result, the fraternity has many community-based programs. Such as drug prevention campaigns, charity sports tournaments, as well as blood drives for local hospitals and the American Red Cross. Nu Sigmas are active in the community participating in environmental campaigns like SCUBA Dogs helping clean up our beaches. Nu Sigma Beta also celebrates an annual golf tournament benefiting Instituto Santa Ana y el Colegio Caliope.^[4] Other organizations include, but aren't limited to, Ronald McDonald House, Hogar Niñito Jesus, United Way, Salvation Army, among others.

On May 8, 2010, the Delta chapter celebrated a Basketball Tournament to donate money to Go-GOGO Foundation which brings help to children with cancer.^[5]

This fraternity has many well known and respected members such as: former mayor of Ponce Rafael 'Churumba' Cordero, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Rubén Berríos, Pedro Ruben Gaztambide Arrillaga former mayor of Río Piedras and member of the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico and former Senator Luis Alfredo Colon Velanuez, Helcías Bermudez Colom, President of NBM, Corp., Efraín Rivera Pérez, Former member of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, José Esteves, Journalist Telemundo Canal 2,^[6] and others.

Chapters and Zones

These are the chapters of Nu Sigma Beta fraternity:

• Alpha Puerto Rico University;(1937)
• Beta RUM, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico;(1939)
• Gamma Interamerican University, (1945) San German, Puerto Rico;
• Delta PUCPR, Ponce, Puerto Rico;(1948)
• Kappa Puerto Rico University, Cayey;
• Omega Puerto Rico University, Humacao;
• Omicrón Puerto Rico University, Arecibo;
• Chi United States of America, Florida State University (2018).

These are the Zones of Nu Sigma Beta fraternity (Zones = alumni chapters):

• Zona Alumni, Mayaguez, PR;(2019)
• Zona Arecibo, Arecibo, PR;
• Zona Betances, Mayaguez, PR;
• Zona Cayey, Cayey, PR;
• Zona Centro, Caguas, PR;
• Zona Humacao, Humacao, PR;
• Zona Kofresi, Quebradillas, PR; (2019)
• Zona Lajas, Lajas, Puerto Rico;
• Zona Miami, USA;
• Zona Orlando, USA;
• Zona Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico;(1950)
• Zona San Juan, San Juan, PR; (2019)
• Zona San Patricio, San Juan, PR;
• Zona Señorial, Ponce, Puerto Rico; (2018)
• Zona Yauco, Yauco, Puerto Rico.

External links

Official website

See also

• List of social fraternities and sororities

References

1. "uprm.edu" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-06-22.
2. "universia" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-06-22.
3. "PUCPR" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-06-22.
4. "Green Area" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-06-22.
5. Pacheco, Carlos (10 May 2010). "Fraternidades unidas por Cancer Pediatrico" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Dia. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
6. (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-22.