Director of Minority Student Services Traci Guinn said Latin culture encompasses many things, but people did get a taste of it Monday.

“A Taste of Latin Culture, Flavor and Salsa,” featuring Latin food and salsa dancing lessons, took place Monday in the Bovee University Center Rotunda Room.

“Just the atmosphere was great,” Guinn said. “We had a very diverse audience. We had community members, students, faculty and instructors; we had athletes. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Enough tables were set up for 300 people, and every table was full, with guests still coming.

Food included chips and salsa, chimichurri roasted potatoes, enchiladas, Spanish-style hot chocolate and apple cinnamon crispitos.

North Adams senior Kristin Dowis attended with her HEV 212: The Family in Cultural Perspective class.

“We have to write papers about cultural events throughout the semester,” she said. “The soup was really good. Anytime there’s corn in soup it has to be good.”

Dowis said she likes it when people take self-initiative to learn about other cultures.

Guinn said the food was delicious.

However, there was more just than food to try. She said students have requested dancing at events like this, so Lizandro Tremolada, Merrill Hall director, was asked to give participants salsa dance lessons.

“I’ve been in the office for eight years, and each year we try something different,” she said. “I wanted everyone to have a good time. I wanted everyone to participate.”

Detroit junior Carly Wilson works at Minority Student Services and often comes to Minority Student Services events as a part of her scholarship.

“I’m a Multicultural Advancement Scholar,” she said.

She said she values Hispanic culture as much as her own culture.

“To celebrate it, embrace it, learn about it, is something everyone should do,” she said.

Guinn said she thinks of many things when she thinks of Latin culture.

“I think of people,” she said. “I think of upbringing. I think of history. I think of food. I think of dancing. I think of diversity.”

Wilson said coming to events like these is a good way to learn about other cultures, and she encouraged students to participate in other events during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“A Taste of Latin Culture, Flavor and Salsa” was put on by Minority Student Services and Program Board.

Minority Student Services will help host other events for Hispanic Heritage Month, including showing the movie “Stand and Deliver” on Monday and Tuesday, having keynote speaker Jaime Escalante on Oct. 8 in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium and co-sponsoring ZUMBA, a Latin dance aerobics event Oct. 13.

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