History

Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a Latino based Fraternity founded in the Fall of 1987 at California State University, Chico by fifteen young, diverse, and dedicated men who saw a need for an organization that would uphold brotherhood and three values they shared in common. Thus the first Latino Fraternity on the west coast was founded on these three principles: Academic Excellence, Community Service, and Maintenance of the Latino culture. Since then, chapters have been established at San Jose State University, University of California at Berkeley, California State University at Northridge, California State University at Fresno, San Diego State University, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California at Davis, Stanford University, University of California at Santa Barbara, California State University at Monterey Bay, California State University at Sacramento, University of California San Diego, California State University Los Angeles and the newest chapter at Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo.

The Gamma Chapter at the University of California, Berkeley was established on September 19th of 1992 by ten young men who also felt the need to create an organization which was conducive of their needs: Academic achievement, Community service and the Promotion of the Latino Culture. Cesar Aguilera, Dan Castillo, Subha Ghoshal, Ricardo Gonzales, Javier Oyola, David Padilla, Raul Perez, Adrian Esteban, Richard Raya and Gary Garcia-Sloan are the men that brought the spirit of Gamma Zeta Alpha alive to the Berkeley campus.

Goals

Today, there are 25 active members majoring in a wide range of majors from Integrative Biology to Ethnic Studies to Mechanical Engineering to Political Science. The Gamma chapter is composed mainly of first generation Latinos from throughout Aztlán, Mexico, El Salvador, and Peru. The diversity of our membership is apparent in the differing senses' of style, taste, music, and goals that each individual brother possesses. This diversity and freedom to express oneself underlies the many goals set for our fraternity.

The main objective of the Gamma Chapter, and the fraternity overall, is to ensure that all brothers graduate and "reach the top of the pyramid" through the mutual support provided by fellow brothers. Established in 1992, 90% of our membership has completed their undergraduate careers and have entered the work force in careers such as accounting, law, public administration, computer engineering, architecture and education. Many more have continued their pursuit in higher education by participating in prestigious Graduate programs at UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, McGeorge, Harvard and Columbia. In accomplishing Gamma Zeta Alpha's commitment to community service, the Gammas at Berkeley have demonstrated this in various activities that we have participated and supported. These activities include: Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society raising over $1,000, our annual participation in activities such as Stiles Hall Haunted House, "Kindercaminata", the "We're Going To Cal" football outing, Raza Day, Raza Transfer Day and annual Cancer Walk in San Francisco.

More than anything, though, Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hopes to provide a sense of trust, camaraderie and initiative among the brothers, both active and alumni. Being a Latino male at Cal can oftentimes be a solitary experience; The Gamma Chapter strives to steer away from that and attempts to create a family away from home. But this sense of comfort is not limited to the confines of the Berkeley area; traveling "Gammas," with a simple phone call, can find welcome signs at the homes of other "Gammas" throughout the State-from Chico to San Diego. From Chapter retreats in Tahoe, to Spring Break excursions in Mexico, to road-trips to the Cal-UCLA game; the Gamma Chapter seeks to build a community based on brotherhood. So as you navigate through this site we hope to provide a picture of who we are and where we are going. Please feel free to contact us for more information about our organization.