We all have some form of heritage and history, and the traditional Quaker values on which the Guilford community prides itself include a respect for diversity. Guilford students are celebrating this with their recognition of Hispanic Heritage month, which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

So far the celebrations have been a dinner with Mexican and Peruvian dancers and a showing of “Maria Full of Grace.” Upcoming events include Salsa dancing on Oct. 5, and a talk by Rosie Molinary, the author of “Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image and Growing up Latina,” on Oct. 24.

All students are also welcome to see Francesce De Paula Soler play guitar on Oct. 10, at 8 p.m., in the Moon room of Dana auditorium to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and the 400th anniversary of the publication of Cervantes’ “El Quijote.” Soler is said to be one of the guitar world’s most notable names, a “poet of guitar.”

Fliers hang all around campus, telling students to come to all events and bring friends to learn and celebrate. They inform students that this month is important to all Latinos because it signifies their contribution to the culture and heritage of the United States.

“It is important that Guilford celebrate Hispanic Heritage month because we need to recognize that Latinos, as well as other ethnicities and cultures, exist on campus,” said Yasmin Casado, one of the planners of Hispanic Heritage month and an officer of Hispanic Unidos De Guilford (HUG), Guilford’s Hispanic student organization. “More specifically, Guilford should celebrate this month because it is a way to educate those (both Latinos and non-Latinos) about the achievements, heritage and issues related to the different Latino groups.”

Other events to celebrate Hispanic heritage are planned throughout the semester. These include a Day of the Dead Celebration with hot chocolate and sweet bread, a Navidad (Christmas) Dinner, and numerous other events. Students can also attend HUG meetings on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the Multicultural Resource Center in Founders Hall.

According to the 2005 U.S. census, the population of citizens of Hispanic or Latino origin is 6.4 percent in North Carolina and 14.4 percent in the U.S. This population continues to grow, making Hispanic culture more a part of the U.S. each year.

“I would like for students to be aware of the presence of Hispanic culture in North Carolina and the growing immigrant population that has become part of society,” said Assistant Professor of Spanish Alfonso Abad Mancheno, who is originally from Spain.
According to Guilford’s 2006 Enrollment Management Plan, international students only make up 1 percent of our population, but the college is hoping to raise that number to at least 3 percent in upcoming years.

“The growth of Hispanic population gives Guilford an opportunity for increasing enrollment, however more Hispanic roll models will be needed,” says Guilford’s enrollment plan.

As Guilford students celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, they are also becoming educated and recognizing the combination of cultures here at the college.

“We are all here and we need to learn and fight ignorance,” said Mancheno, “and the best way to do that is learn about other cultures,”.

Although Guilford’s Latino population is small, most Latino students say they feel comfortable.

“There are other Latino students here and I feel like we’re really welcome. I feel embraced,” said alumnus Massiel Wingeier in a 2006 essay.

It is often heard among students that the diverse community at Guilford is too segregated, but possibly acknowledging the cultures of all our students will allow us to eliminate some of this segregation, and celebrating Hispanic Heritage month is a good start.

“It is important that Guilford have an open community in which all cultures can be celebrated because it is a part of what the school is known for . diversity,” said Casado. “Diversity challenges stereotyped preconceptions; it encourages critical thinking; and it helps students learn to communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds. Ultimately it promotes self-growth.”