Annual cultural event has more planned

Several more events are planned to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,
which kicked off Thursday and runs until Oct. 15.

Food from various Hispanic countries can be sampled 5 to 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 in the Bovee University Center Rotunda and Terrace Rooms
during “A Taste of Latin Culture and Flavor.” Live entertainment also
will be featured.

Keynote speaker Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez will discuss topics related
to the month’s theme of “Hispanic Americans: Strong and Colorful
Threads in the American Fabric” at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 in the Charles V.
Park Library Auditorium.

Valdes-Rodriguez, a journalist and best-selling author, will analyze
Hispanic-American stereotypes during her speech.

For those wanting to celebrate and get in shape, a Latin fitness
routine known as Zumba Aerobics will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 5
in the Student Activity Center’s NIRSA and Alumni rooms.

“A Taste of Latin Culture and Flavor” is the only Hispanic Heritage
Month event to charge admission, costing $3 for students and $5 for
faculty and staff.

“It (Hispanic Heritage Month) gets better every year, so expect it
to be great,” said Tamika Martinez, assistant director of Minority
Student Services.

Another event includes salsa dancing lessons and then open dancing
at Boomers Lounge Sept. 30.

Martinez said planning for Hispanic Heritage Month began last spring
and continued through the summer.

Rochester senior Anita Velasquez said Sigma Lambda Gamma has a long
history of helping organize the event — which spans two months —
because of the fact that many of its current active members come from a
Hispanic background.

“I personally find the importance behind Hispanic Heritage Month to
be an opportunity to celebrate a very rich and diverse culture, and to
educate the masses on the countries and cultures that the word
‘Hispanic’ tries to encompass,” Velasquez said.

Hispanic Heritage Month is significant to the president of the
Latina based sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma.

“However, one of our five principals is Cultural Awareness, which is
also part of the reason behind our involvement in the month’s
planning,” she said.