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Brianna Barragan and Genesis Nuñez are freshmen at Syracuse University but from opposite coasts. While Nuñez is Ecuadorian and from New York City, Barragan is Mexican and from Los Angeles. However, the sounds of bachata and the taste of traditional foods like churros and street corn bring them together via their Latine roots.

“It feels more like home, there’s a lot more Latine people around,” Nuñez said. “You get to interact with different people, especially with the different club members all around.”

The theme for SU’s Latine Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 every year, is “Fronteras Sin Limites: Embracing our Borderless Cultures.” The LHM opening ceremony featured a variety of Latine and Hispanic registered student organizations. Students filled their plates with traditional foods and weaved through tables to the sound of Latine and Hispanic beats.

The event reminded Nuñez of social gatherings at home in the Big Apple because the Latine community bonded with each other over shared culture and favorite foods. Barragan especially loved hearing the bachata as she and Nuñez spoke with students at RSO booths.

“Just hearing (bachata) makes me switch back to home,” Barragan said.

German Nolivos and Cydavia Patterson, the 2024 co-chairs of LHM at SU, spoke at the opening ceremony about the pivotal time for Latine students. A screen behind Nolivos and Patterson said Latine/Hispanic students make up 10% of SU’s student population, not including international students, according to the SU Census.

The Latine Heritage Month Committee hopes to create a network of resources, information and community for Latine students, Nolivos said.

Isabella Flores | Staff Photographer

Hispanic organizations and clubs on campus tabled at the Latine Heritage Month opening ceremony. Members of the Dominican Student Association represent themselves with the Dominican Republic flag and pictures of past events.

Nolivos, who is also the president of the Student Association, immigrated to the United States from Venezuela. He said he found a home away from home in the Latine and Hispanic community on campus.

Nolivos could not have imagined he’d become SU’s Student Association president when he first arrived. He said it’s a reminder of how the Latine community can make a difference.

Latine and Hispanic students gathered at LHM’s opening ceremony to call attention to their presence on campus and contributions to the SU community, Nolivos said. Multiple RSO representatives talked with students about their responsibility to advocate for Latine voices on campus, even if they are not Latine themselves.

One of the clubs that seeks greater representation on campus is the Brazilian Student Association. With a smaller population on campus compared to other Latine groups, they strive to connect Brazilian students outside of their home country.

The Latine student population encompasses more than just individuals from Spanish-speaking countries. The term extends to those from countries like Brazil and different areas of the Caribbean, where Spanish isn’t the primary language, said Isabella Loschiavo, a senior in the Brazilian Student Association.

“I feel like sometimes, even though Brazil is a big country, we kind of get excluded from most of the talks because we don’t speak Spanish,” Loschiavo said. “So I think it’s really important that we’re here showing that we’re Latinos, too.”

Similarly, La L.U.C.H.A., an organization that has advocated for Latine students on campus since 1989, has a broader goal of bringing all Latine students together.

Jasmine Rodriguez, an SU senior in La L.U.C.H.A., said the meaning of “lucha” translates to “fight” in English, emphasizing members’ efforts to stand up for themselves. The group educates students on the nuances of Latin culture, such as the difference between Latine and Hispanic.

Nolivos said the LHM Committee aims to show how resilient the Latine community is, especially while navigating various identities and spaces.

“LHM is a time to come together, celebrate who we are and show the world what we’re capable of,” Nolivos said.

Correction: A previous version of this article included misspellings of German Nolivos’ last name. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Published on September 16, 2024 at 11:09 pm