Howdy and hola!
As the semester proceeds, students fill libraries, study rooms and computer labs in preparation for the first round of exams. However, the once-quiet MSC Flagroom had a change of scenery yesterday. The room was filled with dominating music performed by mariachis belting out traditional Mexican songs and an energized audience responding positively by nodding their heads and singing along.
Hispanic Heritage Month officially began Monday and the Department of Multicultural Services, along with the Professional Hispanic Network at Texas A&M, kicked it off with an opening ceremony Thursday.
"The ceremony was created to be able to showcase the best of Hispanic culture, to showcase achievements, the cultural diversity within the community, to network and to celebrate and validate the contributions of Hispanics to American culture," said Marisa Suhm, assistant director for diversity education. "The event has been going on for at least ten years and is a time when PHN unveils their calendar of events for Hispanic Heritage Month."
The calendar can be found at http://dms.tamu.edu.
It is a time for reflection, interaction, accomplishment and pride. As the ceremony began, Roxanne Longoria, graduate assistant for Department of Multicultural Services, said the heavy influence of the celebration.
"The importance of Hispanics is the here and now, always looking forward to what they can become, but never forgetting your roots, reaching down the ladder and bringing family or people up that ladder," Longoria said.
Speakers at the ceremony reflected on the different aspects of Hispanic culture to an audience of students, faculty, staff and other advocates for Hispanic issues on campus.
"In many ways, there are some natural and logical connections between the core values of Texas A&M University and what Hispanics consider to be key components of a life well lived," said Tito Guerrero, vice president and associate provost for diversity. "They include loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, selfless service and respect. Those are links that exist within our family, our community, the university and our nation."
Jorge Vanegas, interim dean of the College of Architecture, wrapped up the ceremony with a few closing remarks.
"Your experience at A&M is like a blank, empty canvas. I believe each one of us is capable of composing our individual masterpieces that collectively create a quilt or a colláge that we can all blow up because it's full of beauty, opportunity and undiscovered things.
"That's what A&M is all about. It's a place that respects and reveres history and tradition and never keeps its eye off of what we are going to do for this world. That's what this month is about, celebrating a very strong foundation and waiting to see what can be unleashed."
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