Sept. 15 marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month here in the U.S., Hispanic Heritage Month technically lasts from Sept. 15 until Oct. 15 but is often just celebrated during the month of September. Some students at Elizabethtown College kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a trip to the 3rd Annual Lancaster Latin American Festival this past Saturday, Sept. 12. Students were able to sign up to participate in this event through the Office of Multicultural Programs. The festival included food and art related to Latino culture, as well as, music by local Latino artists. The day started off with a parade Latin American flags and a singing of the U.S. National Anthem. Eight different performance ensembles performed throughout the day representing a wide range of genres including Gospel, Latin Jazz, Latin American Folkloric, Mexican Traditional Dances, Caribbean, Bachata, Reggaeton, and Salsa.
The festival was sponsored by the Latin American Cultural Center, based out of Lancaster. “[We are] continually dedicated to promoting, developing, and preserving Latin American culture and enhancing common cross-cultural experiences, as well as Latin American art, music, literature, and traditions, by way of various educational and literacy programs, exhibits, filmography, poetry, and performances,” a pamphlet available at the event reads. This program sponsors events throughout the year which support and showcase the culture and talents of Latinos in Lancaster and surrounding areas. This event allows Latinos and others to gather and celebrate their roots and the unique culture that Latin America possesses.
“It’s a reminder of where I came … a reminder of my culture,” Guadalupe Carnero, first-year, stated. Carnero said this event allowed her to “feel closer to home.” Hispanic Heritage Month is especially important to Carnero. “It’s a reminder of where I come from … a reminder of my culture,” she said. She hopes there will be more events on campus which will represent a wide range of ethnicities, not just Latino, possibly even events for those from European countries as a way to understand the cultures and traditions of all people. She feels cultural events help people of all ethnicities and backgrounds “connect with their identities.”
Carnero’s thoughts on increased multicultural events was mirrored by another student attendee, Mary Braasch, sophomore. Braasch does not identify as Latino, but says, “I noticed everyone was more concerned with standing up for their own minority than everyone else.” She feels it is extremely important to pay attention to other cultures, especially those which may be minorities in our area. “I sign up for everything,” said Braasch, but she says there could always be more events involving multicultural issues on campus. She feels these events allow people to “learn stuff about [other] people, you already know a lot about your own minority – if you are a minority.” “People don’t seem like they want to branch out of their own minority group,” lists Braasch as one reason she likes to be involved with multicultural events.
Brandon Jackson, Coordinator of Multicultural Programs & Residential Communities, was the one to take students to this event. “It was great to experience the mix of latin food, music, and culture so close to Elizabethtown … Lancaster is a larger more diverse city than Elizabethtown, so I think it’s important to have Etown students connect with local community events whenever possible,” Jackson stated in a recent email. The Office of Multicultural Programs holds events throughout the year which students are able to become involved in. “Multicultural events are important because they give us an opportunity to explore the perspectives and cultures of others. Our global society is more connected and transient than ever making knowledge of other cultures more important. Multicultural programs also give students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they exist in the world around them,” Jackson replied when asked why he feels multicultural events are important for students.
In regards to Latino heritage and Hispanic Heritage month, there will two events in Oct.: there will be a Hispanic Short Films showing on Oct. 1 in Gibble Auditorium starting at 7pm and a day of the dead celebration from Thurs., Oct. 29 to Sat., Oct. 31 in which students can create altars to their loved ones and paint candy skulls. There are many other multicultural opportunities on campus throughout the year, including several cultural student groups and multicultural programs. Jackson stated, “For more information on the programs, students can just stop by the Office of Multicultural Programs in the BSC.”
-Aileen Ida
