MSU kinesiology senior Sam Shelby, left, talks with Latino Student Association outreach coordinator Stacy Hernandez at the organization's booth Monday. The Latino Student Association kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month. (Photo by Charlie Benton, SDN)
A small group at Mississippi State University will be sharing its heritage with the campus and community over the next few weeks.
The MSU Latino Student Association kicked off its Hispanic Heritage Month events Monday with a booth on the Drill Field. The group shared information on the organization and upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month events with students passing by. The organization also had Jenga and cornhole games set up at its booth.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 to October15, so during that month we’ll just have a bunch of events to educate others on the Latin culture,” said Hispanic Student Association President Ryan Pacheco, a senior interdisciplinary studies major born in the U.S. of Ecuadorian parents.
The next upcoming event is “Salsa in the Streets,” a salsa dance party scheduled for Friday, starting at 7 p.m. at the Lee Hall Plaza.
“We’re going to have free salsa lessons, as well, and we’re going to have free food,” Pacheco said.
Other events include a film showing, two panel discussions and a taco fundraiser. A full schedule can be found on the group’s Facebook page.
“This is our fourth year on campus, you don’t have to be Latino to join,” Pacheco said. “It’s pretty much an organization to educate people on the Latin culture, also it gives us a say-so in the school, because the Latino population (at MSU) is actually one of the smallest in the entire SEC. It’s just a way to show our presence here on campus.”
The Hispanic Heritage Month events will be presented in conjunction with the MSU Holmes Cultural Diversity Center.