Theresa Dunne
Features Editor
Sept. 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a month dedicated to celebrating Hispanic and Latino/a heritage and culture as well as recognizing the influence Hispanic and Latino/a Americans have had in shaping United States’ history.
Thanks to the efforts of Proyecto Latino, Wooster’s Latino student association, students at the College will have the opportunity to partake in numerous events offered throughout the month that both celebrate Latino/a culture and address current issues that particularly impact the Latino/a community. The events kicked off Tuesday with the first installment of a three-part documentary series titled, “Latinos in America.”
Although recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month is not new to the College, the events this year are of much greater scale than in previous years. By tapping into different resources on-campus such as the College of Wooster Political Science Department and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Proyecto Latino was able to expand its programs by bringing in a variety of speakers and interactive ways to engage student-participation throughout the month.
“[We want] to have everyone from the school come to these events, however you feel who you are as a person, whatever culture you identify with, whatever sex or race or gender […] we want you to come and look again through a different lens and experience something different or something you maybe haven’t been exposed to,” said Eduardo Muñoz ’19, the co-president of Proyecto Latino.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, Proyecto Latino hopes to merge the celebration of Latino/a heritage with ideas of social justice. With the help of Dr. Michele Leiby, professor of political science, Proyecto Latino received funding to bring Cleveland artist, Hector Castellanos Lara, to campus. Castellanos Lara depicts civil and social activism through alfombras de aserrin or “sawdust carpets,” a Guatemalan carpet art form traditionally used as a part of Easter celebrations.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Castellanos Lara will lead the construction of a sawdust carpet in Lowry Pit that will remain in the space until the Immigration panel on Thursday, Sept. 29, in an effort to display the strong relationship between culture and justice in Latino/a heritage.
“To see Professor Leiby help us out by submitting [a grant proposal] to the political science department and getting them to vote on it for the artist to come and make [the carpets] that was really cool,” said Muñoz.
In the coming weeks, Proyecto Latino also looks forward to participating in a protest in downtown Wooster, as well as the aforementioned Immigration Panel that will address topics related to the 2016 presidential election.
Additionally, the group will hold screenings for the second and third installments Latinos in America this Tuesday, Sept. 26 and Tuesday, Oct. 4 as well as multiple social events including this Saturday’s Latino Lunch, a Noche de Loteria (Bingo Night) and finishing up with a Latino Fiesta.
While this year’s events are geared towards recognizing important aspects of all Latino/a cultures, Muñoz can’t help but think about the possibilities for future celebrations. “A huge objective [of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month] is setting the foundations for years to come,” said Muñoz. “For this to be the first year that things are becoming real and students are actually participating, I am very happy and honored [to be a part of it].”
For more information about the events listed, please consult Proyecto Latino’s Hispanic Heritage Month’s promotional materials posted in Lowry Center.
