Audra Wills
Orbit Media Reporter
Hispanic Heritage Month is a national holiday celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It recognizes the cultures and contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans.
The event begins on Sept. 15 because it celebrates the Independence Day of Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Dr. Sandra Soto-Caban receives Mexican Street Corn during the Muskingum Hispanic Heritage Month Quad celebration on Sept. 24. Soto-Caban interviewed with WMCO during the remote broadcast.
Muskingum University is taking part in the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, hosted by the Office of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion (DAI).
Muskingum University Director of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion, Danyelle Gregory said one of the goals of the celebration is to make the campus environment more inclusive. “…but also to educate the campus community on different things and why we celebrate it,” said Gregory.
Throughout the month there have been numerous activities around campus to learn about Hispanic heritage.
There were virtual tours and live streams of celebrations honoring the month that students received links to access.
Muskingum hosted a celebratory event on the quad Thursday, Sept. 24. WMCO played Latin American music from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Elotés (Mexican Street Corn) was served.
There are a few opportunities left for students to get involved in the celebration, including screenings of Latin films with Dr. Alistair Hattingh. To attend, students are required to register in advance.
“I think it’s [Hispanic Heritage Month] important despite what our campus looks like or our region looks like. I think it’s important to know about all of the other peoples who make up the United States. …I think all these things give us a greater sense of our world around us,” said Hattingh.
Dr. Alistair Hattingh interviews with WMCO during the Hispanic Heritage Month remote broadcast Sept. 24, 2020. Hispanic Heritage Month runs through Oct. 15.
By attending these events, students are entered to win prizes such as TVs, a Hispanic Heritage themed basket, Fire Stick products, Apple AirPods, and more.
Students also receive emails and information on the month-long celebration and other upcoming events.
“I’m encouraging people to just read their emails because I’m actually sending out emails similar to ones I sent out for Black History Month,” said Gregory.
For more information and to register for events visit www.muskingum.edu/dai.
