Gamma Phi Omega is the birth child of Veronica Montemayor who first thought of the idea for a local Latino-Oriented sorority in the Fall of 1989. Having tested the Greek waters of Indiana University, Veronica thought that the Greek communities here did not offer enough for Latina women. She felt that there was no real place where she could truly fit in. So,she decided that it was time to raise a new sail-one that celebrated the diversity of the Latino cultures. That semester Veronica was joined by Monica Guzman and Cristina Rodela.

Together, the three women began a nation-wide search to find a Latino-oriented sorority that wanted to expand to Indiana University. First, they sent out a mass mailing to university campuses throughout the United States. They were looking for a sorority that strived for goals and objectives they felt were important for a Latino-oriented organization: academic excellence, cultural awareness, community service and sisterhood. The search was not easy, for they spent the remainder of that academic year following up their letters with telephone calls and other inquiries. The first responses to the efforts were not encouraging.

But they kept trying. In the Fall of the following academic year, Margaret Escabalzeta, Laura Garcia and Barbara Graves joined the three women. Again, extensive calls were made to numerous campuses. This time, the new core group did find some established sororities that focused on the Latino cultures. With these new findings, however, came new barriers. At the time, some of the sororities did not want to expand. Others were only local organizations that did not fulfill IU's national status requirement for Greek organizations. The most discouraging part of all was that a few of the sororities were unwilling to share information about themselves.

At this stage, Veronica's idea had become a dream and the group refused to let it die. So when, after exhausted efforts, the core group still had not found what they wanted, the six women took the only option that remained. They decided to start a new sorority. In order to do so, they first needed to obtain the permission of Richard McKaig, IU Dean of Students. So, they promptly arranged a meeting with him. During that meeting, the women assured Dean McKaig that not only would a Latino-oriented sorority survive on the Bloomington campus, it would also enhance the pre-existing Greek communities. Convinced, the dean granted them permission to begin work on an Alpha Chapter. On April 17th, 1991, the women- Veronica, Monica, Cristina, Margaret, Laura, and Barbara- founded Gamma Phi Omega.

Veronica Montemayor graduated that Spring of 1991. She was unable to return to campus that following Fall when the core group finalized all the necessary paperwork. Nor could she accompany her new sisters to present their final proposal for Gamma Phi Omega to the university's expansion committee. But Veronica was, is, and always will be with the sorority in spirit and support. It was her dream that became a reality when on January 22,1992, the core group received an acceptance letter recognizing Gamma Phi Omega as an official sorority on the Indiana University campus.