La Casa hosts ‘Hola New Hoosiers’

La Casa, IU’s Latino Cultural Center, kicked off the National Hispanic Heritage Month with icebreakers and food Friday through their new program, “Hola New Hoosiers.”

“This event is particularly for the freshmen so that they are informed and learn how to engage themselves,” said Lillian Casillas, director of La Casa.

The event attendees played various games and introduced themselves to get to know each other. One game included all participants taking off a shoe and throwing it in a pile, where they tried to identify whose shoe was whose.

Members from different organizations, including multicultural fraternities and sororities, were there to inform the freshmen about their objectives and goals for the school year.  
Carlos Jara, freshman programs coordinator at La Casa, came up with the idea to host the event to help freshmen get to know one another and assist with any problems or needs they might have.  

“I wanted to host Hola New Hoosiers to culturally familiarize the incoming students and remind them that Bloomington is just like any other town and that there are people willing to help them if they need anything,” Jara said.  

Freshman Alma Figueroa said she wants more minority freshmen to attend programs like these so they can learn and meet new people.  

Hola New Hoosiers is only the start of the National Hispanic Heritage Month, which officially starts Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15. Jara said there will be more programs during the celebration to give all students a chance to develop friendships and learn more about the Hispanic culture.

Casillas said these upcoming events are not only for the Latino students and community; they are open to anyone who is interested about the diverse opportunities La Casa has to offer.

Casillas added that she wants students to know that the staff of La Casa is here to help.

“We’re here... to promote diversity and give leadership opportunities to all who are interested,” she said.