Photo Credits: Trace Wiley
Pictured (left-to-right): Aracely Paz, Abigail Rivas, Jennifer Marquez
Unlike most celebratory months, Hispanic Heritage Month begins mid-September and ends mid-October. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic history and culture is celebrated. On Sept. 15, the Latinx Student Organization (LSO) held their annual Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off event at Mullens Plaza.
The organization switched things up this year, adding a tabling element to their event. Accompanied by entertainment and food, the event raked in attendees from all over campus and the Russellville community.
Of the organizations there to table were the First-Generation Student Organization with the Center for Student Engagement and First-Generation Student Success, the International Education Office, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Hispanic Heritage Festival in the Valley, the Black Student Association, and Sigma Iota Alpha.
The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is a “nonprofit, nonpartisan organization which uses legal, legislative and public education methods to protect and promote a broad range of constitutional issues including racial justice, immigrants’ rights, voting and elections work, reproductive liberty, LGBTQ equality, First Amendment rights, students’ rights, and more” (ACLU). Those interested in volunteering can contact mario@acluarkansas.org or visit www.acluarkansas.org/volunteer-with-us/.
The Hispanic Heritage Festival in the Valley hosts events and an annual festival to “honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage in the Valley” (Hispanic Heritage Festival in the Valley). They provided decorations and supplies for LSO’s event.
Food was catered by Morelos Mexican Grill, La Huerta, and Los Munchies Taqueria. Attendees enjoyed arroz y frijoles (rice and beans), enchiladas suizas (cheese enchiladas), enchiladas rojas (red enchiladas), enchiladas verde (green enchiladas), and tacos asada (steak tacos).
Arkansas Sweet Spot provided horchata, agua de sandia, and agua de pepino to drink.
After students had the opportunity to eat and visit tables, the entertainment began with a performance from Ballet Alma Folklórica. This dance group consisted of Abigail Rivas, Aracely Paz, and Jennifer Marquez. Next, ATU student and LSO member Hector Torres danced to “La Danza de Viejitos” with Caleb Torres. The last of the entertainment was a traditional masked street dance called Chinelos del Estado de Morelos.
President Anthony Rivas, a senior biomedical science and psychology double-major from Russellville, Arkansas, said, “What this event means to me is the incorporation of two very important aspects of my life: my culture and ATU. I love my culture, and I love being a part of the ATU community, so the fact that this event brings both together makes it especially meaningful to me. It shows how culture can unite the student body and create a welcoming community, which makes me appreciate and love the community we have built even more.”
Vice President Cathy Polanco Aguilar, a junior health and exercise science major from Springdale, Arkansas, said, “Representing my community is what matters most, and I want to be able to showcase the beauty of our culture to our students, faculty, and staff on campus. To me, this was more than just an event, especially with our current political climate. Everyone deserves to have a voice and be an advocate, and I want to be just that for my people. It’s so important for the Latinx community to feel united during hard times. So, this was a presentation of my love and dedication to my culture, my people, and my parents, my family, and friends [sic].”
This was not simply an event, but rather a display of culture and what it means to the ATU community.
Those interested in joining or learning more about LSO can contact Anthony Rivas at arivas2@atu.edu or find them on Instagram @atu_lso.
