In the wake of LSU announcing its most diverse student body in history this year, the campus’ Free Speech Plaza took on a different attitude Tuesday. 
Students danced, sang and encouraged others to learn more about Latin culture. 
LSU’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the Hispanic Student Cultural Society sponsored a Hispanic Cultural Showcase Tuesday on campus to round out recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month.  
OMA coordinator for cross-cultural affairs Krystie Nguyen said HSCS has been holding the cultural showcase since the organization’s establishment about five years ago. 
Nguyen, who is also the HSCS faculty adviser, said this event is about promoting cultural awareness at LSU. 
Although “Hispanic” is in the organization’s name, HSCS members want participants to know that identifying as Hispanic or speaking Spanish isn’t a requirement for membership.
Nguyen said at one HSCS meeting, attendees represented 32 countries. 
“That shocked everybody, including me, because you don’t get to see that many countries being identified.” 
This event was also about recruiting HSCS members.  
Spanish senior and HSCS president Clarissa Melendez said the organization has not only brought in more members, but also that members are more active. 
Since fall 2010, LSU’s Hispanic student enrollment has increased more than 50 percent. Currently, Hispanic students make up 5.3 percent of LSU’s student body, according to LSU’s Office of Budget and Planning Trend Data information. 
Melendez said LSU is paying more attention to its Hispanic community now, but the University could do more such as holding its own Hispanic heritage month events.  
Although the Hispanic student population has been increasing, she said one of the greatest challenges for Hispanic students is maintaining their identity. 
“Often times it’s forgotten, considering that there aren’t that many organizations that support Hispanic culture or have them speak in any different language,” Melendez said. “They often times don’t have that little niche where they can promote their own culture and celebrate it.”
HSCS wasn’t the only Latino culture organization present at the cultural showcase. 
Fernando Canchola, sports administration junior, was at the event with LSU’s Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity chapter, which promotes Latin culture. He said the purpose of this event is to bring awareness to the Hispanic or Latino community. 
“As Hispanics here at LSU, were not socially contracted as we should be,” he said. “We should be connected as a community where everybody knows each other.”
Canchola said he would like to see more student body events focused on bringing LSU’s Latin community together. 
“One thing I would love the student body to do is bring a keynote speaker that is Latin and is a leader in this country to show the Latin students that when they come to college, they’re not just studying for a job, they can actually make a difference,” Canchola said.