Hispanic professor and students explain the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month for everyone

Hispanics make up the largest minority group in the U.S., and the population is ever-increasing.

According to the 2010 Census, Hispanics make up approximately 17 percent of the population. In Cache Valley alone, Hispanics make up 10 percent of the population, an amount that has nearly doubled since 2000. A 2012 study by the Census Bureau projected by the year 2060, one in three people in the United States will be Hispanic.

However, these numbers are not represented at Utah State University.

At USU, only 5 percent of students are Hispanic. This low count is part of the reason Professor Maria Spicer-Escalante believes Hispanic Heritage Month is so important to recognize.

“It is our responsibility to be proud of what we are, and only by being proud of what we are will we be able to be recognized,” Spicer-Escalante said.

Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 and runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. According to its web page, eight Latin American countries celebrate their independence during this range. The intent is to honor contributions made by Hispanics, as well as celebrate the culture and heritage.

Spicer-Escalante believes some students may struggle with that because of how Hispanics can be represented.

“Being Hispanic is not associated with good status,” she said. “Unfortunately there is a stereotype that is attached to all of us, all people.”

That’s just how humans are, she said.

Itzel Leon, who manages public relations at Latino Student Union, doesn’t think it’s necessarily the stereotype that’s keeping people back, but a loss of culture.

“The majority of the students I’ve met on campus are proud to be Hispanic,” she said. “I think the ones that are not proud to be Latino are those who don’t know much about their culture.”

Karina Hernandez, vice president of the Latino Student Union, said it can be hard to embrace your heritage in areas like Cache Valley, where the demographics are monotone.

“I was never ashamed of my roots or culture,” Hernandez said, “but when no one around you can understand or relate to the significance of your culture, it’s easy to lose it.”

Both Hernandez and Leon agree that the key to embracing the culture, whether from the inside or not, lies in education.

“I don’t think the university celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month as much as I’d like them to,” Leon said. “Which is why it’s very important for us, LSU, to educate our peers about it.”

Hernandez said Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t just for Hispanics.

“I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience to be familiarized with Latin culture,” she said, “because it truly is a beautiful one.”

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