JESSICA MEDITZ
Asst. Life & Arts Editor
Hispanic Heritage Month is often a period of recognition, celebration and pride for many Latinos across the country.
Fredonia hasn’t forgotten about it, either.
Latinos Unidos, one of Fredonia’s clubs, has arranged several events to honor the month.
Their most recent event, known as Closing Ceremony, took place last Monday to conclude Hispanic Heritage Month.
It is arguably one of Latinos Unidos’s most significant events.
This year’s celebration was particularly special, as Wilfred Rosas, the mayor of Dunkirk and New York State’s first Hispanic mayor, attended the event as the guest speaker.
“When I was elected as New York’s first Hispanic mayor, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “Being the son of Puerto Rican parents and seeing so much discrimination, it was a pleasant surprise to be elected. It’s important to understand leadership and to never be ashamed of who you are.”
He then encouraged the students in attendance to utilize their right to vote, because it’s important to be a part of decisions that will affect the future.
Authentic Latin food was served following his speech, which might have been something some students have not experienced.
Aside from Closing Ceremony, Latinos Unidos’s other events for Hispanic Heritage Month include Latin Dance Night, Latin Game Night and Calle Ocho Glow Party, an event inspired by the Calle Ocho Festival in Miami.
Ariana Tooker, a sophomore psychology major, is the publicity chair of the Latinos Unidos executive board.
She said that Latinos Unidos has been consecutively trying to make their club more well-known and recognized on campus, and that Hispanic Heritage Month was one of their greatest opportunities to do so.
The month resonates with her personally as well.
“Being half Puerto Rican and growing up going to a predominantly white school, I haven’t always been able to connect to my culture,” she said. “Here, [at Fredonia] I have the chance to really embrace my heritage, and Hispanic Heritage Month is the time of year that I get to do that the most. There are some people who say: ‘What about white heritage month?’ When, really, every other month of the year is that month.”
Other events unrelated to Hispanic Heritage Month are happening as well.
On Monday, Latinos Unidos screened the 1997 film, “Selena” in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room.
They plan to hold other events similar to this one. For example, an annual event called La Fiesta is in the works for Latinos Unidos.
It will likely be a masquerade ball-themed event that will take place close to Halloween.
“We basically just try our best to be different and stand out among the many clubs on campus. Overall, we want to attract more students and just have fun,” said Tooker.
For more information and updates about Latinos Unidos, check out their Instagram: @LatinosUnidosFSU.