As Latine Heritage Month comes to a close, it’s important to remember that Latine Heritage should not be forgotten. September and October are dedicated to putting Latine culture at the forefront. Showcasing the foods, music, clothes, literature and everything else there is to love and appreciate about the rich heritage of Latine culture.
As the end of September also marks the end of Suicide Prevention Month, it’s important that students of marginalized backgrounds have spaces to go where they feel accepted and can discuss sensitive topics without the fear of being judged
The Chat N’ Chew, hosted in collaboration between Mi Familia and Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), served as a safe space for Hispanic and Latine students to “come together and unwind” as Gavin Bell, Assistant Director of MSA expressed.
There was a lot of chatter amongst those in attendance. A highlight of the night was the significance of bringing such a diverse group together on such a large campus, creating spaces for Latine students to embrace each other and be themselves.
The Nubian Message got the chance to learn more about what bringing together the Latine community means to the event organizers.
Mi Familia Club President Travis Espinoza, a fourth-year, majoring in applied education shared how events like Chat N’ Chew create safe spaces for Latine students to speak about their experiences.
“It means to us that we’re allowed to have conversations that we couldn’t really have back at home… So having events like these or just any events in general, bringing the community together and allies as well allows us to break that wall we created and have an open space to have conversations that aren’t typically held, especially within our own communities,” Espeninoza shared.
Similarly, Mi Familia Vice President Estella Garcia, a fourth-year environmental science major, spoke about the importance of Mi Familia at NC State.
“Events like these really embrace and kinda are what Mi Familia is. We want to create a safe space for students here on campus, students from all different backgrounds,” Garcia said.
The Chat N’ Chew brought out students of all classifications. From first-year students who were attending their very first Chat N’ Chew and even graduate students who’ve been attending Chat N’ Chew since before the pandemic. The Nubian Message had the opportunity to ask a few first-year students “What do you think about how the Hispanic and Latine community is represented at NC State?”
Josh Hanflink, second-year engineering student said, “In terms of Latine community representation, I feel like we do a very good job with that. As a freshman, I attended a lot of events like Lampa Theta Phi. They have cookouts. It’s pretty much their way of giving back to the community. And not only does that provide a space for Hispanics and other Latine students to kind of connect but also provides a sense of community.”
Liliana Sandoval, a first-year majoring in biology said,“So far being a freshman, I from what I’ve seen, I feel like Hispanics aren’t represented as well as they could be right now. It’s going to continue to grow. I think with the growth will come more interaction and more participation. Until then I feel like we are doing a good job at what we’re doing so far, especially the Multicultural Student Affairs.”
With this in mind, not all students on campus have had the same experience finding the Latine community here at NC State. The Nubian Message asked upperclassman Brady Barlow, a fourth-year majoring in horticulture science and Spanish, “As upperclassmen how do you think the Latine community here on campus has been embraced and how has that changed in your time here?”
Barlow said, “I’ve noticed a lot more presence in both the newspapers, especially during Latin Heritage Month. Just celebrating and sharing the stories of Latine students and also trying to connect students to opportunities.”
As the Latine community at NC State continues to grows, so does the need for programs to embrace such a marginalized group. Mi Familia and Multicultural Student Affairs are already ahead of the curve, planning to do more and more to showcase the presence of Hispanic and Latine individuals on campus. Be sure to look out for events they have in the future! You can find out more by visiting @ncsumifamilia and @ncstatemsa on Instagram.
