Westfield State students of all different backgrounds have come together both on and off campus to participate in this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
Between September 15th to October 15th, these have ranged from specialized dishes served at the Tim & Jean’s Dining Commons to film screenings to even invitations to events outside of campus, such as the parade in Springfield and Festival Latino of the Berkshires.
According to the National Museum of the American Latino, Hispanic Heritage month was established proper in 1988 by President Reagan to honor the contributions of Latin-Americans. These have varied from the arts, sciences, history, and the many independence days that take place in these countries.
For many students at Westfield State, the observance of this holiday has not only been towards the cultures it pulls from, but also the people who come from them.
“I believe each club represents a community, and affinity clubs are exactly that, a shared community. Everyone is welcome, no matter your race, ethnicity, or where you’re from,” said junior Lorraine Fernández, the standing president of the Latinx Association for Empowerment. “At LAfE, the door is open for everyone looking for a community to be a part of.”
Also the VP of Student Equity, Fernández is among the many campus students and faculty that have collaborated to head the Latinx Heritage Month Planning Group. Their collective efforts have reached many different departments to put on a wide range of events.
Another member of the group, Marjorie Rodriguez, is thrilled to see Latin American pride reflected on campus.
“I think my culture is so rich that it should be celebrated every single day,” answered the faculty sponsor of LAfE. “We’re storytellers. We have so much to say.”
The nationwide celebration of Latin American culture has sparked conversations about its authenticity and, in institutions like Westfield State, what more could be done to uplift these communities outside of just heritage clubs like LAfE.
Upon being asked if the school engages enough with its Hispanic and Latine communities, Matthew Dellea of SAIL, an organization for student activities, stated “yes.”
Actual members of these communities, on the other hand, believe that more can be done.
“Latinx students often get overlooked. They are not provided as many opportunities as other students because [faculty] believe ‘oh, they can’t speak well. Why ask them to participate at CURCA?’” said Rodriguez.
Citing other issues such as microaggressions and a lack of Spanish-language staff in key areas such as counseling, Rodriguez stated that, “it takes a lot of courage for Latinx students to even navigate our institution or engage in leadership opportunities because we see the fact that we’re looked at differently.”
Likewise, Fernández answered that, “every year there is an opportunity to do more. This also goes to every other community/organization, not just LAfE.”
Despite these issues, students have continued to participate in these events, even if they are not from that background.
“I’m Irish and British,” said Brendan Major, vice president of the Communications Club. “I’m not someone who is an expert [on the community..] But if an event looks fun and I get to support my friends, I’ll go.”
Events are winding down as the campus shifts towards Halloween and midterms. But many BIPOC students on campus plan to continue to make their mark throughout the semester.
“We have leaders. We have students who can potentially become leaders,” said Rodriguez. “We just need people that will believe in them.”
Clubs like LAfE plan to continue activities that are open to the campus for the rest of the semester. While events are still in the works, there’s still hopes of continued student involvement.
