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Erika Kelsey
Alpha Phi Gamma

In my four years at State, never was I invited to attend a gentlemen’s auction until this year. Sigma Lambda Beta’s Psi Gamma Chapter at SDSU invited the entire Greek community to their gentlemen’s auction this month to reveal their newest members as well as auction off their old members.

Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest Latino-based fraternity founded on April 4, 1986. They are committed to creating and expanding multicultural leadership, promoting academic excellence, advancing cultural awareness and service while influencing its mission among all dedicated collegiate men worldwide. 

I was eager and excited to see what was to come. I took my pledge sister with me to the Beta’s auction since she had never been to one either. They chose Chelatos Bar and Grill off of El Cajon Boulevard as their venue. I saw familiar faces as well as many new ones in the crowd. And by crowd, I mean a big crowd, the venue was at maximum capacity.  Fraternities that attended were Nu Alpha Kappa, Sigma Lambda Beta from Irvine; Dominguez Hills; Nebraska; and Texas, Phi Beta Sigma, and Lambda Theta Phi. The Sororities that attended were Alpha Phi Gamma, Alpha Pi Sigma, Lambda Sigma Gamma, Lambda Theta Alpha, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Sigma Pi Alpha and Sigma Theta Psi.

Clearly, the turnout of fraternities and sororities was diverse and quite impressive.  I just had a feeling the auction was going to be nothing short of entertaining.  The auction began with the amped up revealing of SLB’s new members marching towards the stage. It has been two years since they have had new members. SLB’s New Member Educator, Miguel Arciniega says, “From the five new members they [Sigma Lambda Beta] hope to gain not only new additions to the family, but ambitious gentlemen who will help the chapter at SDSU thrive and succeed.”

New members auctioned off for as high as $100 and their old members went for as high as $340. The auction was a huge success not only because they raised large amount of money, but because they received a lot of support from the Greek community.

After the auction, they cleared the floor and made room for dancing. No matter what song played, there seemed to be stepping and strolling from left to right. I learned that SLB was derived from a historically African-American Fraternity (Phi Beta Sigma) and they have stayed true to their ties of stepping and strolling as a form of self-expression.

Overall, the auction was great and people who attended said they had an amazing time. The money SLB raised from the auction will be used to send their delegates to their national convention in Tampa, Florida. This convention is where delegates from all over the country get together to vote on measures within the fraternity’s governing body.

Congratulations to Sigma Lambda Beta’s five new members: Jose Aranda, Omar Espinoza, Carlos Gamino, Saul Rodriguez and Everado Vences. I know they will only make SLB’S Psi Gamma chapter stronger. 

Erika is a senior studying journalism and marketing. You may contact her at erikakelsey@yahoo.com.