Choices are not always black and white, and when it comes to sororities — sometimes it's the minority that gets lost.

As the Hispanic presence on campus continues to grow and many Latina women choose sororities, they are presented with a racial dilemma.

Vanderbilt's lack of a multicultural Greek council leads to three distinct rushing processes for Hispanic females: National Pan-Hellenic Council, Panhellenic Council or Lambda Theta Alpha, an associate member of Panhellenic Council that is a predominantly Hispanic sorority.

The sentiments surrounding Hispanic members of sororities on campus prove to be as diverse as the Hispanic population. Senior Bethany Gonzales, former president of Lambda Theta Alpha, found it difficult to find a place where she really fit in.

"I felt out of place with the Panhellenic sororities," Gonzales said. "I feel like Hispanic women just don't fit that sorority image, but in Lambda Theta Alpha it was like family immediately."

Lambda Theta Alpha, while technically considered part of the Panhellenic system, follows more casual rushing guidelines than other Panhellenic sororities, and this system leads to a different outlook. Maria Maldonado, a freshman, admits she never thought of rushing Lambda Theta Alpha, despite her Puerto Rican background, greatly due to the minimal information she received.

"The sorority was only mentioned to me once," Maldonado said. "I wanted to be part of a sorority that was more well-known."

While low levels of publicity affect interest levels, social interaction seems to play as important a role as accessibility. The rush process for Panhellenic sororities dominates the beginning of the spring semester and draws high levels of interest on campus. This popularity factors greatly in decision making with regards to Greek rush.

"I never thought of myself as a minority, so when I thought about rushing I rushed with my friends," Maldonado said. "I don't go looking for a certain type of friend — it doesn't matter what ethnicity they are."

However, a desire for a cultural connection commonly factors into sorority choices and, in Vanderbilt's case, led to the establishment of Lambda Theta Alpha. The journey for the Latin sorority has not been easy, and with only four members, the sorority is the smallest one on campus.

"Lambda Theta Alpha is still cultivating their chapter," said Kristin Torrey, director of Greek Life. "There was one point where Bethany Gonzales was the only member. Their involvement with the Panhellenic sororities goes up and down based on the number of women involved at that moment."

The involvement in Lambda Theta Alpha reflects the sentiments of many Hispanic girls who don't necessarily identify with their ethnicity. The guiding factor in choosing NPHC, other Panhellenic sororities, Lambda Theta Alpha or no Greek life at all seems to be based on the people in a woman's social network.

"I didn't want to be involved in a sorority. I'm not the typical Hispanic person, and I didn't feel like I could fit in with any type of sorority," said sophomore Cathya Olivas.

Culture commonly takes second place to comfort, and sometimes students find similar ethnicity does not necessarily create an automatic bond.

"I joined a sorority because I wanted to meet new people and get involved, not in order to meet other Latinas," Maldonado said. "The friends I have are diverse — it's just the kind of person that falls into my lap."