New Latina sorority brightens downtown Pembroke with mural

By Gabrielle Patrick
Staff Writer

The UNCP chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority painted a mural in downtown Pembroke for Palmer Prevention, Inc., a non-profit drug prevention organization.

Photo by Ariel Houchens The mural warns of the danger of drinking and driving.

The mural, 60 feet wide by 13 feet tall, focuses on the prevention of drinking and driving, which is an immediate problem in the Robeson County area.

The mural is exhibited in comic-strip style. It depicts teens getting drunk at a party, then driving home. In the third scene, an explosion of color representing a crash warns onlookers about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol. The final scene shows the graves of the teens and bears the words: "This could be you."

Lambda Theta Alpha hoped that, by painting the mural, they would be able to convince young people that anyone driving drunk is laying his or her life on the line, not to mention the lives of everyone else on the road.

Lambda Theta Alpha is the newest sorority on campus. It was chartered spring 2005.

The sorority is classified as an academic sorority. The group focuses on achieving scholarly excellence, supporting and maintaining minority unity and promoting cultural and political awareness.

Although the roots of the sorority are Latina, Lambda Theta Alpha fights for the empowerment of all women and accepts sisters of every race, color, creed and religion.

Photo by Ariel Houchens The ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha painted a mural at Palmer Prevention Center in Pembroke.

The sisters of the Delta Gamma chapter are young women who proudly display their colors, burgundy and gray.

Although the chapter is still small, there is an interest group hoping to become members next semester.

Service to the community is stressed by the sorority. The chapter has worked on several community service projects, including adopting a highway and volunteering at the Southeastern Family Violence Center.

Palmer Prevention provided all the necessary supplies for the mural. The women of Lambda Theta Alpha said they are grateful for the help of their friends and the members of Theta Kappa Epsilon for their help in the drawing, grid setting, and painting that went into the mural.

For more information about joining the Lambda Theta Alpha, contact president, Christelle Lebeau at cll020@uncp.edu.