The Hispanic/Latino population is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at LSU. The Hispanic Student Cultural Society, also known as the HSCS, is an organization on campus that celebrates and supports the growing Hispanic populations.
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. To celebrate, HSCS has been holding programs all month to teach and celebrate the Hispanic culture. They held panels, programs and a Fiesta Night at the dining halls in hopes of spreading awareness about their culture.
Elizabeth Borda, a Junior at LSU and the Internal Director of HSCS, explains that she has been a part of HSCS since her freshman year. She loves, “Associating myself with the diversity of being Hispanic because not many people can say that being from the United States.”
Krystie Nguyen is the Coordinator of Cross Cultural Affairs in the Office of Multi-cultural Affairs.
“In 2010 there was a little bit less than 800 Hispanic/Latino students that are here [at LSU], and now, in 2014, we are seeing a little bit more than that,” Nguyen explained.
The growing population has caused the HSCS to grow. Nguyen explains that a few years ago the organization didn’t exist, but now it gives the Hispanic community a, “Home away from home.”
Leonardo Martinez, an LSU Freshman, explains that the Hispanic Community is more unique because of its diversity.
“Hispanics in itself is a very diverse culture because there are Latinos from many different cultures. They all bring their little input to the table which makes it a really diverse culture so like there’s really like you can’t get bored with it I guess because you are always discovering new things about new people from different cultures,” Martinez said.
There are 24 countries where Spanish is the official language. HSCS hopes to bring this diverse community together on the LSU campus.
Martinez urges people who don’t understand the Hipsanic/Latino community to find Hispanic friends and get to know them.
Borda urges the Hispanic/Latino community to get involved in Hispanic organizations and accept their culture because diversity is here at LSU.
Check out HSCS's Facebook to learn about their upcoming Showcase.
