The Multicultural Center’s First Friday event in September celebrated Latine students with arts, crafts, dancing, and refreshments. The Latine First Friday was an opportunity for Latine students to share their experiences, engage in meaningful dialogue with other students and have a lot of fun.
“We are hoping to foster an environment for Latine students and embrace where they come from and their culture,” said Lucianna Lorenzetti, coordinator of Latin American and Hispanic Programming and Communities and Oficina Latina. “We have a taco bar, Los Razorbacks t-shirts, and a dance instructor teaching three different Spanish style dances; merengue, bachata and salsa.”
After dancing, students could enjoy tacos, mangonadas and candy.
“I feel like I don’t see a lot of Mexican food around, especially the types of candies that I like, so it’s cool that it is being brought to campus so other people can see what different cultures enjoy,” said Caleb Flores, a sophomore Biology major.
Lorenzetti said the Los Razorbacks t-shirts have been so popular this year that they had to do a second order and have had other departments on campus reach out to reuse their design.
“I actually went out of my way to get one because I had missed the original Latine mixer. I was like ‘I really want one of those shirts, they’re so cute,’” said Angel Castillo Reyes, a senior studying Political Science, Latin American Studies and African American Studies. “So, I got one. I really like them, and I like that it’s in Spanish.”
The event was also an opportunity for those to learn more about Latine culture. Many students attended to broaden their knowledge and understanding of another culture different from their own.
Cole Burton, a junior studying Communication Disorders, said he is taking Spanish classes to learn the language as he wants to become a Speech Pathologist and help children who speak English or Spanish.
“This event is a symbol of all of us coming in to celebrate the Latino culture,” Burton said and gestured to his friend. “We are in Spanish classes trying to learn the language and we just want to become part of this culture because we love it.”
“It’s important to have all students and community members join us for our Latine first Friday celebration and gearing up for the start of Hispanic heritage month because we want to provide the University of Arkansas community a chance to learn more about the Hispanic/Latine culture,” Lorenzetti said. “My goal as a Coordinator is to help create a space where our Hispanic and Latine students feel like they belong and are represented. But if we can also help other students learn more and understand the cultural and background we come from that can help increase the sense of belonging for our Latine students.”
Photos by Shane White
