Traditions are a big part of Latin Culture. On campus, 23 percent of students can identify with the customary food, dances, stories, and more that come with being Latino.
Though they make up less than a fourth of our population, students of Hispanic descent have made their mark on campus. The engaged members of the Latinos Unidos Club emulate the importance of carrying on their culture in their activities, meetings, discussions, and dance performances.
The Latinos Unidos club’s monthly, student-lead meetings teem with students of Hispanic descent. In the beginning of the year, they unite with the goal to coordinate an expressive dance for the annual Heritage Fair that reflects their culture and the traditional moves of the Latin countries they or their families are from.
When they are not preparing for the show, they tell stories and bond over their shared heritage.
Sophomore and club president Diane Rodriguez said, “We tell stories, talk about our families and our history. In Latinos Unidos, we are able to get to know each other and connect.”
The club also utilizes their meetings to plan fundraisers. This year, they coordinated a bake sale, and are still deciding where they will put the money.
The Heritage Fair is the club’s main event. They work hard to choreograph, practice, and carry on traditions in an exciting dance performance.
Rodriguez said, “We worked hard this year to put together a Latino dance to show the whole school what we can do. We did three songs and practiced a lot. Many club members, new and old, were very interested in participating in the show. We all had to be very committed to be successful and to demonstrate the true style of Spanish dancing.
The club has about 20 members, and their choice to focus primarily on dancing creates a gender ratio unbalance.
Senior and club member Ashwin Nithanand said, “This is my first year in the club, and I have enjoyed it because it is a place to go where I can talk with people who share my heritage. However, I am one of the few boys in the club. Guys do not want to dance girly. I decided I would rather help coordinate than dance, as did every other male.”
It is not easy for them, but the girls, with the help of a few boys and and advisor, take leadership to make the dance the best it can be throughout the year.
However, the club is not all logistics and tireless coordination.
Club advisor and Spanish teach Bertalicia Godina said, “It is remarkable that the club enables the students to network with each other and find a voice and band together as the Hispanic community on campus.”
While they attempt to put together bigger fundraisers, like car washes, and piece together more activities for the club to bond over, the club will continue to carry on the traditions in everything they do, be it dancing, telling stories, or just discussing the unique heritage they all share, the members of the Latinos Unidos Club will continue to strive as they carry on the traditions of their rich culture.
