From Sept.15 to Oct. 15, people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a celebration for the contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
Approximately 31.5% of Kean University's student population is Hispanic or Latino. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates many different cultures including:
- Argentia
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gutaemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, students gathered for Kean's annual Latin Patio event. The festivities took place on Sept. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Downs Hall patio .
“I absolutely love this Latinx Power!" said Dominican Freshman Jasmin Langomas.
The Latin Patio was an opportunity for all Kean students to gather and embrace their own Hispanic/Latino heritage as well as others. There was lots of free food and drinks from many different cultures. Students were also given the chance to show off their dance moves while the DJ played a diverse mix of bachata, merengue, salsa, and much more.
During the event, students shared how they felt Hispanic Heritage Month was going so far. Many students loved the appreciation and representation shown here at Kean University.
“I honestly love the way they are representing [Hispanic Heritage Month] here," said Puerto Rican Freshman Amber Ortiz. "It is a lot of fun and they are always trying to make everyone feel included.”
With a lot of Kean’s demographic being hispanic or latino, this event allowed its students to feel a little more at home with their culture's music, food, and ambiance.
At the event flags of all different countries were distributed and students jumped on the chance to show off their country's bandera (flag). It was a beautiful melting pot of different people and cultures, getting to express themselves through the traditions they each carry.
Many Hispanic/Latino students are first generation students; the first in their family to go to college. This makes the transition to college that much harder.
Events like these help students feel apreciated and have a piece of their home with them. Numerous students were calling home or sending videos to their parents to show them the flags, music, food, and drinks.
“Cada tic-tac es un segundo de la vida que pasa, huye, y no se repite. Y hay en ella tanta intensidad, tanto interés, que el problema es sólo saberla vivir. Que cada uno lo resuelva como pueda”. - Frida Kahlo
(Each tik-tok is a second of life that passes, flees, and is not repeated. And there is so much intensity in it, so much interest, that the only problem is knowing how to live it. Let each one solve it as he can.)
