Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off today

Sophomore Paul Rodriguez says the "happy Mexican and the token black guy" smiling on the covers of promotional brochures about IU are not a true representation of IU students.\nRodriguez said the diversity IU has does not mean the campus has racial interactivity.\n"You go into a classroom and you see similar people from the same places talking to each other," he said.\nRodriguez started working for La Casa Latino Cultural Center as a freshman because he realized the Latino community needed help and he wanted to make a difference. "I was tired of seeing people not care," Rodriguez said.\nWith a Hispanic population of only about 800 -- 2 percent of the student population -- IU's Latino community will attempt to bring a fresh flavor to IU's culture starting today.\nThey will join Hispanic communities throughout the United States in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15.\nThe celebration begins tonight with Sonia Monzano, otherwise known as Maria from "Sesame Street," who will lecture at 6:30 p.m. at the Indiana Memorial Union's Whittenberger Auditorium. Other activities throughout the month will expose students to the Hispanic culture in Bloomington and in the U.S.\nLillian Casillas, director of La Casa, said the organization's goal is to provide a variety of learning and interactive opportunities regarding or involving the Latino community.\n"There have been efforts made to make IU a welcoming community for Latinos, but we still have a long way to go before we can say that we are done," she said.\nCasillas said this month's celebration occurs during the fall because this is the time of year when many Latin American countries gained their independence.\nJunior Melvin Tejada, president of Latinos Unidos, IU's largest student-run Latino organization, said this month celebrates a wide-ranging group of people with distinct differences.\n"The word Latino is so broad," Tejada said. "People can learn about a culture that is very rich."\nHe said coming to IU was a culture shock for him because he was used to the abundant diversity of Chicago.\n"I miss the food, traditions and my mom's cooking," Tejada said.\nOrganizations like La Casa and Latinos Unidos can provide a home away from home for Latino students, but Tejada said many students are afraid to attend these programs.\n"A lot of people might be intimidated to get involved. They shouldn't be," he said. "We'll embrace anyone who is willing to come in."\nRodriguez said the Latino organizations would like to be able to reach more of the Latino population, but they don't have the resources to communicate their message.\n"We can't advertise for new members or rent places for dances because it's too expensive," Rodriguez said. "We don't have a lot of money and we think the facilities should be more accessible."\nA variety of Latino groups on campus -- including two Latino fraternities and two Latina sororities -- mirror the wide array of Hispanic cultures. Tejada said even though these Latino organizations lack resources, students give support by attending the various groups' events.\nRodriguez said La Casa and National Hispanic Heritage Month help educate students, and he said this is the first step toward increasing tolerance.\n"Racism and bigotry come from not being educated," Rodriguez said. "Ten years from now we'll all be in different places. The lessons you learn here you'll take with you and use to educate others and help end bigotry."\n-- Contact staff writer Alli Stolper at astolper@indiana.edu.