Students gathered in the quad for Hispanic food, music and crafts on Monday, Sept. 16 during ¡La Fiesta!, a Hispanic heritage month event from the Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. students could learn some Latin dance moves, make craft items and purchase Hispanic food from El Meson Xpress, a food truck from a local Chilean restaurant.
“I think it went well,” said Director of the AHNA Center Mai Nguyen. “We had many students come in at different times when they finished their classes.”
“I was surprised; we had so many students from the LEAP international programs,” said Nguyen. “A lot of them were interested in the dancing.”
Nguyen noted that the weather had a positive effect on the event’s success.
“Fortunately the sun came out and that helped a lot,” said Nguyen. “In other years it has either been very hot or windy and all the things blew away.”
At the crafts display students could build their own Mexican warrior doll, make paper flowers or create sand art.
“[The students] participated in the arts and crafts and took the free things,” said Nguyen. “They always love the sand art. It’s so funny when you see them all walking into class with a jar of sand.”
Several students said they appreciated the event.
“Part of my family is Hispanic, so it’s important to acknowledge it and to celebrate the heritage,” said sophomore marketing major Johnessa Boston. “I thought it was really cool with the music, the food and everybody dancing.”
Freshmen Kirsten Williams and Brande Watson said they enjoyed learning some Latin moves.
“We definitely loved the dancing best,” said Williams, a nursing major. “I think it’s a good way to get everyone involved because it’s right in the middle of everything.”
“It gets to show people part of a heritage other than their own,” said Watson, a criminal justice major.
“The food looked so good,” said Jacob Hart, a freshman. “They ran out of almost everything, though.”
Nguyen said the center intends to continue hosting ¡La Fiesta! annually, continuing its 16-year tradition.
“We had a good turnout and most students really seemed to enjoy it,” said Nguyen.
The next event in the Hispanic Heritage Month series is the screening of the documentary film, “Precious Knowledge.” The documentary follows student leaders as they fight to save the Mexican American Studies Program at Tucson High School in Arizona. The film will be shown Monday, Sept. 23 at 12:15 p.m. in the Multicultural Lounge, 161 Millett.
