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Hispanic Heritage Month in full swing
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Saturday marked the kickoff date for the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at Boise State University.
Sunday was the Independence Day for Mexico, but celebrations were curbed in light of the recent tragedy.
However, festivities resumed Monday on the campus with music from Karibe, a local Latin band, composed of Boise State students.
“This is the first time we have done events for the Hispanic Heritage Month on campus,” Tam Dinh, coordinator for the Culture Center, said.
Activities include free Mexican pastries in the marketing booths of the Student Union on Monday, and a Spanish movie-a-thon on Sept. 27. Featured films include Bele Epoque, a movie with English subtitles.
The activities are free for students, with a donation gladly accepted to help the Cultural Center.
“These activities are all a very easy, light and non-threatening way of learning a culture,” Dinh said.
Many students enjoy sharing their cultures with others.
“We are all at the same university,” said Dora Barroso, historian for OELA, Boise State’s Organization of Latin-American Students. “It is nice to know about different people and cultures.”
These activities reveal to students a taste of Hispanic culture, Dinh said.
“It is also good for the Hispanic students on campus to see something they identify,” she said.
Events such as these also provide a sense of solidarity for students.
“Having this lets people know where we come from, and see us united on campus,” Ricardo Calderon, an engineering student said. “People can see how many of us there are.”
This semester has seen a 13 percent increase in the number of students of Hispanic decent.
Dinh said this is the largest ethnic group on campus.
“These events provide support for these students to feel comfortable,” she said.
OELA is the supporting organization for these events, and acknowledges the contribution provided by the Cultural Center.
“We couldn’t have done this without the Cultural Center,” Calderon said. “Tam helps out a lot, and without the Cultural Center, this might not be as successful as it is.”
Calderon was born in Mexico, moving to Kimberly, Idaho when he was ten.
“In high school, I was three of about 550 students who was Hispanic,” he said.
He said he had been accustomed to being the minority, and coming to Boise State was an easy adjustment.
For his first couple years attending BSU, Calderon said he was unaware of the Cultural Center.
“If it keeps promoting itself, more people will use it as a resource,” he said.
But increased awareness for the Cultural Center is not only the responsibility for Dinh and her helpers.
“I see that if the center keeps doing these kinds of activities it will be great, and I hope it grows; I know I will be doing my part to help,” said Calderon.
Contributions from the Cultural Center not only include aid for Hispanic Heritage Month, but also support for students and activities to display various cultural events.
“I think it is very important for the Cultural Center to expand, to understand cultures and people can all be seen as one,” Barroso said.
Events depicting Latin-American cultures established by the Cultural Center and OELA reach further than the month celebrating heritage. OELA puts on the Cinco de Mayo events, and also celebrations for the Day of the Dead to “educate students by being who they are,” Dinh said.
“They provide enormous education for us and students, an education you cannot find in books, and I hope people take the opportunity to learn through this interaction.”
Laura Wylde
