There was such a vibrant energy at the Latino Community Gathering. It was held in the McLane lounge found in the newly built first year residence hall. The space was perfect: lots of light, comfy couches, tables, chairs and enough space in between. Uriel Barrera-Vasquez, ’98 alum, Rosa Orellana, professor in the Math department, and over 60 students, both current and prospective, filled up the lounge within the first fifteen minutes. Students mingled over delicious soups, sandwiches, and cookies for about twenty minutes before Jesse Canedo, and ’08 from Texas, and I started the panel of speakers. Six Dartmouth students introduced themselves and shared their experience of being Latino on this campus. Among them were leaders in the Latino organizations on campus including La Alianza Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, and Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority (the two Latino Greek organizations on campus) as well as students who are involved in wide range of other activities, from athletics to theater to community service. The common theme in everyone’s speech was: Be whoever you want to be at Dartmouth and know that the Latino community is there for as much or as little support as you need or want. It was beautiful!
After the student speakers finished most people walked over to LALACS, the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies house. LALACS is a warm and colorfully decorated residential space where any student can sponsor programming, study or just hang out. SLU (Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority) sponsored a very successful ice cream social. Alex Hernandez-Siegal, Assistant Dean of Student Life & Advisor to Latino/a Students, attended and socialized with the students. Everyone seemed to be having a lovely time. I mean, you can’t go wrong when you’re enjoying yummy ice cream with sprinkles and listening/dancing to the reggaeton, salsa, and bachata in the background.
A Little Bit of Dartmouth
