Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

by: krista helling
Staff Writer

St. Ambrose University celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 17 to Oct. 17. Latinos Unidos Minority Affairs sponsored many activities that allowed the SAU community to indulge in the Hispanic culture in many different ways. The group, just one of many active clubs on campus, plans activities throughout the year in order to spread their message.

Latinos Unidos Minority Affairs has been in existence on the SAU campus for a few years now. Anyone can be a part of the group, as long as they are an Ambrose student and have an interest in Hispanic culture.

"The group is a chance for the people in our community to really see the Hispanic culture," Dulce Dyer, former secretary of the group said. "The group was formed because many of the Hispanics on campus thought it was a good idea."

"We all share the bond of the Hispanic culture and part of the culture is helping each other," Dyer said. "The group gives us the opportunity to get to know other Hispanics and help each other in any ways we can."

The group held a few activities within Hispanic Heritage month that anyone in the community could participate in.

"We held Salsa dance lessons, which were taught by an actual Ambrose student and we also had a social in the game room which included music and food from the Hispanic culture," Victor Menchaca, who works with MECCA club, which is currently a nonexistent group on campus, said. "We had quite a few people attend, which was really encouraging."

The Latinos Unidos Minority Affairs also plans a few other activities throughout the year for the Ambrose community to participate in.

"We plan and hold a dance, a bonfire, all of the Hispanic Heritage Month activities and a few others," Alex Vazquez, president of the group, said. "We are really encouraged when people participate."

Latinos Unidos Minority Affairs hopes that their presence and existence on campus will make others aware of their culture.

"We just hope that Davenport and St. Ambrose will be open to our group and our activities," Vazquez said. "We want them to be aware of and gain appreciation for our Latino culture and traditions."

It doesn’t matter which group member you talk to, each one portrays a great sense of pride in their heritage, which is a main reason to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month on campus. There will still be more opportunities and activities throughout the year.

"We are just friends helping friends," said Dyer. "We hope to just show Ambrose how proud we are of our culture and its ideas by having this club here on campus."