Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is an important time for celebrating the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time of celebration but also a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by these communities. A campus student organization, UNIdos, provides an understanding of Latiné culture to the UNI community through its cultural and social programming.
This year, UNIdos is hosting a series of events aiming to bring the campus together, highlight Hispanic culture and make students feel welcome. Lizbeth Garcia Tellez, the UNIdos President, emphasizes the importance of inclusion on campus, especially at a predominantly white institution (PWI). “Coming from a predominantly white institution like the University of Northern Iowa, it is important to make sure that students of color feel welcome. By representing Hispanic Heritage Month on campus, we represent all students of color here. I think just overall making sure that students feel welcome here is really important,” Garcia Tellez says.
UNI’s international population stands at 202 students representing 47 countries from around the world. Organizations like UNIdos provide many students of color an opportunity to build a community where they can meet others who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Garcia Tellez shares, “I like to say that UNIdos can feel like a home away from home. We have a lot of students come in with their friends or just come to meet friends. Being surrounded by people who understand you and can even speak the same language as you is really awesome. We try to tie our events around making sure we are being inclusive of all the different cultures.”
Last week, UNIdos kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with its first event of the year, a potluck with games. This week, on Wednesday Sept. 25, UNIdos is hosting its second event of the year, “Sabor Fuego” at the ThreeHouse from 5 – 6 p.m. This hot and fun event invites students to participate in the Hot Cheetos and Takis challenge, with the first person to finish their bowl winning a $10 gift card to Maucker Union. “All students are welcome just to celebrate our culture and Hispanic Heritage Month,” says Garcia Tellez. Another exciting event in the works is a fundraiser, in collaboration with the Black Student Union (BSU), inspired by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Garcia Tellez wants non-hispanic students to know that UNIdos is a place on campus for everyone. “You can support by showing up to our events. I feel like a lot of people hear UNIdos and think it is only for Hispanics and Latinos on campus. UNIdos is open to everyone, anyone can come to any of our events. If you would like to support us, the biggest thing you can do is to just come to the events that we have going on.”
Hispanic Heritage Month provides a unique opportunity for all students to engage in cross-cultural exchanges between the diverse identities on campus. But, Hispanic representation on campus is about more than just showcasing a culture for the length of a month; it’s about creating a campus environment where students from all backgrounds feel that they belong. Organizations like UNIdos play a vital role in making students of color feel welcomed by offering events, resources, and spaces that bring people together. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by UNIdos, follow their Instagram, uni_unidos.
