Celebrating Hispanic heritage at USU
Latinx students represent one of the largest minority groups at Utah State University, and this month students were given the opportunity to take part in celebrating Latinx culture with the commencement of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month, originally instituted by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 and later expanded by Ronald Reagan in 1988, celebrates the many diverse cultures, contributions, and histories of the Latinx or hispanic community.
The historic month begins Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15 every year, stretching to encompass the independence days of seven Latin American countries and several other national holidays that honor Latinx contributions.
The observation is celebrated across the nation through an array of festivals, community gatherings, and educational efforts.
Hispanic Heritage month for USU kicked off with a fundraiser and concert on Sept. 17. Members of Latinos in Action and the Latinx Cultural Center sold tortas, quesadillas and tacos to students to raise funds for the organization and share their culture with the USU community.
A concert featuring Los Hermanos de Los Andes followed the fundraiser. Whimsical melodies could be heard from outside the Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall, as the Utah-based, Andean folk group poured their hearts out on stage.
“It took a while to plan and it was a lot but it was an overall amazing event,” Nataly Baquerizo, president of Latinos in Action, said of the fundraiser, “I hope everyone had a good time.”
Throughout the month, the Latinx cultural center has put on several sessions of Life of a Latinx Leader, formerly known as Lunch With a Latinx Leader. These events invite accomplished Latinx leaders in the community to come speak about their journeys, aiming to inspire the next generation of Latinx and Hispanic trailblazers.
“It’s just the life of the people which is very important to other students,” Pam Allcott, the program coordinator for the Latinx Cultural Center, said, “they can identify with, like, how would you pass the struggles to be in college or to be a first generation college student.”
Life of a Latinx Leader highlights the necessity of the Latinx Cultural Center at USU as a place to provide belonging for all students.
The Center began as a place to show visibility for the Latinx community. Being a minority in a majority white population can be difficult, and the center gives students the opportunity to see they’re not alone. For many students, the center is a home away from home.
The center, now located in TSC room #227, has a lounge space where many students come hang out or do homework. This new lounge gives students a safe space to connect with Latinx culture and meet other Latinx students.
“Finding some other people here that like can relate to some things where I’m like, oh, like my mom, used to do this,” Baquerizo said, ” it’s really nice. And it makes me feel at home.”
In addition, the center provides students with a variety of resources. Students are welcome to visit the center with any questions, academic related or otherwise.
“That’s why I’m here. I’m here to help them to find those resources. If they need questions they just can come over, and if I don’t know the answer right away, I will find out for them,” Allcott said.
One other purpose of the center is to help educate students about Latinx culture. All students are welcome to come hang out and learn more about the center.
“Everybody’s welcome. Anyone will come in and stay here and do their homework here and we have here students who are learning Spanish,” Allcott said.
For Allcott, Hispanic Heritage means remembering where she comes from. It means giving Latinos visibility, and celebrating their unique cultures and contributions both to the world and the USU community.
“For us as Hispanics, it is important because we can to see our roots,” Allcott said. “We want to keep that alive.”