Hispanic Heritage Month took over Saint Xavier University this year to raise further multicultural awareness
This observation of Hispanic and Latino American culture started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson.
It was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
An annual national event from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, this traditional program acknowledges the valuable contributions that Hispanic and Latino Americans offer to the United States, and we learn about them here at Saint Xavier.
There are many different events and programs held here at Saint Xavier to be offered to the students to be able to have a better understanding of the heritage of their Hispanic and Latino American peers and friends.
There were various events held in honor of celebrating Hispanic Heritage here at Saint Xavier University.
On Sept. 12, there was a Mexican Independence Festival at La Villita, Chicago, the largest celebration of Mexican heritage and culture in the Midwest in which they officially celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule and the rich traditions of the Latino family.
This was the first time that Saint Xavier has actually sent students to be educated about multicultural events outside of the actual campus.
There was also a movie educating the viewers on Latin American culture shown on Sept. 23, and similar movies will be shown on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. with following discussions of the Latin American heritage.
Traditional Latin American food was served at the diner for all those attending the event. Foods available were meant to give students a taste of the many vibrant dishes made available in Latin America.
Lectures from public speakers will be held regarding what is happening in the Latin American culture not just in the United States, but also in the Latin American countries around the world.
Hispanic Heritage Month events were all created and executed by Unidos, a campus club that Saint Xavier offers where students could join to be further educated about the Hispanic heritage and culture or to be in a setting with people of the same ethnicity, and Campus Life.
These two organizations collaborate together for this traditional multicultural celebration so as to gather a student input about the events to that the school could hold for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Unidos even had their own event occurring for Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 25 in the diner, which included members of the Unidos club actually teaching Saint Xavier students about traditional Latin American dance, such as Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata.
Every semester, Unidos holds a dance at Regina Hall in the Res Center, usually on a Friday or a Saturday.
It is a chance for Saint Xavier’s freshman to come out of their dorms and to have a good time dancing with their friends or listening to traditional Latin American music.
When asked for his opinion about why it is so important that Saint Xavier celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Miguel Esquinca, senior and president of the Unidos club, says, “Here you see that Saint Xavier is a very diverse school. It’s kind of like a reminder that this is what the Latino culture is. And I really believe that one of the biggest highlights that Unidos and SXU do around campus is that we don’t only focus on one culture. Like for Hispanic Heritage Month, we don’t only focus on Mexican heritage.”
Esquinca states that people have been in attendence to the events being held here at Saint Xavier in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful tradition that Saint Xavier University acknowledges about the efforts of the Hispanic and Latino Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
Whether you truly want to be educated about Latin American culture, or you just want free food and a chance to dance to new music, there are events all around the Saint Xavier campus for everyone’s interests.
The next upcoming event for Hispanic Heritage Month is a lecture by Sergio Lopera with his presentation entitled “Colombia: A Country Rooted in Cultural Diversity.”
It will held on Thursday, Oct. 2, in the Warde Academic Center’s Student Lounge at 3:30 PM. The lecture is free and open to the public.
For more information about Lopera’s lecture, please contact Olga Vilella, Ph.D. at vilella@sxu.edu.
For more information regarding any of the events in relation to Hispanic Heritage Month, please contact Campus Life (located at WAC L-103) at 773-341-5060.
Gisselle Lopez
News Editor
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