Latino Heritage Month is a time of the year meant to celebrate the diverse Hispanic culture in the U.S. The month started Sept. 15, and the Center for Multicultural Excellence has events planned for both faculty and students to come together and highlight the rich culture of the Latino population on campus. While DU is celebrating that this year’s freshman class is one of the school’s most ethnically and geographically diverse, with 22 percent identifying as people of color, Latino students don’t always see their culture reflected in their everyday experience. Latino Heritage Month is an opportunity for these students and the rest of the school to explore this culture together.
“To have a chance to showcase part of [Latino students’] background, part of their history and their heritage, is really important to bring to campus,” said Adrienne Martinez, assistant director of the CME. “I hope [these events are] an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to come together and to highlight the rich diversity that’s here on campus.”
Events started on Oct. 1 with Guatemala’s first female attorney general and 2013 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Claudia Paz y Paz Bailey speaking at the Joy Burns Center. She discussed her experience as a leader in Guatemala fighting human rights violations and crime amidst threats to her own safety.
On Oct. 2, the DU Latino Alumni Affinity hosted its sixth annual Latino Symposium in Craig Hall, during which a discussion took place about various economic issues that the Latino community faces.
The CME still has a number of other events planned throughout the rest of the month. On Oct. 22, the Latino Student Alliance is hosting Noche Caliente, a dance with a wide range of Latin music, in Driscoll Ballroom, giving staff and students the opportunity to have a fun night of dancing and food together. On Oct. 27, Sigma Lambda Beta, a Latino-based international fraternity, will be hosting its eighth annual Taste of Latin America in Craig Hall.
Be sure to check out the full list of events on the CME’s website.
