The Latino Student Alliance marked the start of their annual Latino Heritage Month on Monday, Sept. 15.

The ideal guiding this year’s heritage month is “Marcando Nuestra Huella,” or “Leaving Our Footprint.”

Sophomore Fernanda Hernandez and Junior Paola Diaz, who have been with LSA for two years, explain that the alliance attempts to have a new theme every year.

“So last year,” Hernandez says, “…was, ‘One Land, Many Nations.’”

Diaz adds that the group wanted “to hit the point of diversity and appreciating our differences and difference of cultures, and not just focus on Latinos, but also try to include everybody.”

Moving forward, LSA aims to strengthen the goal of Latino Heritage Month.

Hernandez said, “This year, ‘Leaving our Footprint’ is more of our impact, and the challenges that we face, or any minority faces.”
One such way LSA hopes to make an impact is by hosting a forum chapel tomorrow in Lehman auditorium.

Senior Ana Cruz, who is also in her second year with LSA, explains, “We have an opening chapel; that’s pretty much the thing that’s always been there.”

While chapel has been integral to Latino Heritage Month in the past, serving as either an opening or an ending to a celebration of heritage and culture, she adds that this week’s chapel will be different from previous years. The chapel forum will explore LSA’s theme and focus on reflections from current graduate student Boris Ozuna.

Cruz explains, “We’ve always had in mind to kind of do something different for chapel. Something Latino-ish, not something that’s just standard.” This notion is evident in the rest of LSA’s planning.

On Oct. 3, the annual formal banquet will be held at 6 p.m. While the location has yet to be determined, LSA notes that this event has quickly grown in popularity since its introduction last year.

Diaz said, “I’m looking forward to the banquet; that’s kind of one of the big things people have started to look forward to. We started it last year. It was just a way for everybody to get dressed up and come out and support a cause.”

As a result of this success, as well as students’ requests for a salsa night, LSA will host a small dance following the banquet. Hernandez notes that this will provide students with a chance to continue to socialize and celebrate Latino culture once the banquet is over.

Following this event, Latino Heritage Month is currently slated to culminate in a showing of “Instructions Not Included,” which follows the struggles a man and his daughter face when the girl’s biological mother returns to their lives. The film is scheduled to show in Common Grounds on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.

While the group has discussed adding more events – they are supporting and may sponsor rides for Harrisonburg’s International Festival on Sept. 27 – the current roster exemplifies the growth LSA has experienced.

Hernandez, Diaz, and Cruz state that the alliance has quickly expanded since their initial involvement.

Cruz explains, “It was us three, and then [Mario Valladares and Natasha Hartzler] got pulled in.” In that time, they have also experienced increased response, and this support has come in surprising ways.

“Oddly enough,” Hernandez states, “we get more response from non-Latinos than Latinos during our events.”

She credits this dichotomy to the fact that many Latino students commute to campus, making it difficult for them to fully participate in on-campus activities.

Despite this, Diaz and Cruz stated that LSA’s main goal has remained constant: to foster the inclusion of Latino students.

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At ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř, this year’s Latino Heritage Month theme is “Diferentes pero unidos” (different yet united). Events for the month at EMU include dance lessons on Sept. 23 and 30, followed by the Latino Student Association (LSA) dance on Oct 7. A potluck on Oct. 13, featuring freshly prepared  dishes from several Latin American countries, will close out the month’s celebration.

“‘Diferentes pero unidos,’ invites the whole campus community to consider that in the midst of all our difference we still can come together in a peaceful and understanding way and learn from one another,” said Michelle Ramirez, president of LSA.

David won the Arpa/CORAL best instrumental album of the year in 2005 and 2009, according to his website. He has performed in countries across North, Central and South America, and in parts of Europe and Asia. This will be his third appearance in Harrisonburg.

“David presents a violin concert that reaches every audience’s heart, bringing the message of hope and encouragement to each person who listens to his music,” said Ramirez.

A suggested offering of $15 can be made at the door. Admission for EMU students is free with identification. All proceeds will to toward the Mennonite Hispanic Initiative.

David will hold a music clinic at EMHS on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Registration is $20. For more information call 540-560-2842.

For more information on the concert and other events during Latino Heritage Month, contact Lorenzana at 540-432-4458 or marvin.lorenzana@emu.edu.

¡Bienvenido a capilla! The Latino Student Association presented chapel on Oct. 7. Students clapped along with praise and worship songs in Spanish, including “Bueno Es” and “Te adoro a ti.” As everyone settled in, Camila Pandolfi spoke about the importance of knowing your goals. Pastor Byron Pellecer and Marvin Lorenzana then took the podium and began a unique sermon Pellecer planted and preaches at Iglesia Discipular Anabaptista based out of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. Lorenzana, whom Pellecer calls his “brother from another mother,” is the director of Multicultural Services at EMU.

Trading rapid-fire phrases and sideways glances that sent giggles across the audience, they wove a thought-provoking story about a hypothetical windfall of “Can you imagine for a minute, that in your bank account, it will appear overnight the amount of $6,400” he said, setting up the imaginary scenario.

“But the catch is that you have to spend every single penny to the last cent. You cannot save it; you have to use it, whichever way you do it… because at the end of the day at midnight, it will be voided.”

Together they went through the options: paying college bills, buying a car, giving to the poor. “$6,400 is a lot of money. I cannot even think that in Spanish,” Pellecer quipped.

“We have that amount in our hands,” he revealed. “One single day has 6,400 seconds.” He challenged students as well as educators to think about how they use these precious seconds, and what they are adding up to in the end. “What would you do with that knowledge? Would you put it into practice, or hang it on a wall?”

They continued to speak in fluctuating Spanish/English about how education is a means of transforming oneself, and using it to be of service to people in the world. “In my own opinion, education is a way of opening our hearts,” Pellecer said.

“Use it wisely. Use it to better your life, and the lives of the people that will always be next to you. Free others. Teach them the goodness of God, teach them the foundation of God, teach them the beauty of life. Because all these elements, you guys are getting right here.”

LSA open mic night, part of Latino Heritage Month at EMU

Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Honduras, Uruguay, Canada, Italy; these are only some of the countries represented at an open mic discussion that took place in Common Grounds on Tuesday night.

As a part of Latino Heritage Month, the Latino Student Alliance (LSA) at EMU hosted the event which was attended by approximately 25 people. The topic for the conversation that night was the same as the topic for the entire month, which was “

"," an Indiana-based music group, will be in concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at EMU.

The trio – Anita Oliver, David Oliver and Rafael Barahona – fuses Latin-flavored rhythms with traditional world and modern styles.

Bridgeland’s evolution dates back to the late 1990’s in a small college town in northern Indiana. In 1997, newlyweds David and Anita Oliver formed a band called "Radiant" and later invited Rafael Barahona to join them. After about one year, Radiant was temporarily put on hold. As a result of a joint performance with other local musicians, Radiant merged with them and formed "Ra

As part of the observance, will present a concert 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, in Strite Auditorium on ground floor of the Campus Center.

Afromantra combines rich harmonies with powerful rhythms and flavors of Cuba and Latin America, offering a unique sound to a new generation of Latin jazz enthusiasts. The group’s repertoire includes original compositions, drawing from Cuban, American and South American traditions and influences.

Admission is $3 at the door.

EMU has launched a program initiative as part of its mission to increase student diversity on campus while serving the local community.

At an information luncheon held Apr. 30 on campus, EMU staff introduced a strategic plan to recruit and retain more Latino students from Rockingham, Augusta, Page and Shenandoah counties and the cities within those boundaries.

Around 30 representatives from profit and non-profit programs and agencies that serve the Latino community attended the luncheon meeting.

“EMU has developed a strategic plan that we believe the Latino community will find appealing and that makes EMU’s tuition more affordable in the Latin cultural context,” said Melody M. Pannell, director of multicultural programs and moderator of the information meeting.

Michelle R. Hensley, director of financial assistance, noted that tuition will be discounted on a sliding scale based on the students’ expected family contribution as determined by the application for federal student aid.

“The discount that EMU provides, combined with the possibility of federal assistance, will make EMU’s tuition quite competitive with state-supported schools,” Hensley said. “EMU will also actively seek support from local and national organizations who might provide funds for this program. Any scholarships or grants provided by these programs would be applied to the EMU contribution so that more students can benefit,” she added.

“EMU will strive to integrate the students into the total campus life,” Pannell said, noting that her multicultural services office will coordinate a special orientation with this aim.

Other program efforts Pannell cited include a Latino Heritage Month, interaction with the local community and other activities that will help the Latino students become contributing members of the EMU community. Academic help will be provided – as it is for all students – through the Academic Support Center, she pointed out.

“For those students who are academically prepared for university work but for whom language is a barrier, there’s the possibility of participating in the Intensive English Program at EMU and then bridging to the full undergraduate program,” she said.

“EMU already has the advantage of a cross-cultural program requirement for all students,” said Laurie W. Miller, director of undergraduate admissions. “This initiative provides an additional wonderful opportunity right at our doorstep to broaden relationships and increase student diversity.”

Naomi R. Gorton, who speaks Spanish, is the admissions counselor who will work with the prospective students. She introduced herself to the group and said she “looks forward to working with local Latino students who inquire about EMU.”

Silvia Romero, who works with the Migrant Education Program in Harrisonburg, said she “wanted badly to enroll at EMU” in 1997 but felt she didn’t have the financial resources and so welcomes the Latino initiative as one way of making the university accessible to more students.