The Hispanic Student Association and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will present a Latin American night in the Colvard Student Union Ballroom tonight from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The HSA, whose goal is to unite Hispanics around campus and introduce diverse cultures to other students, is spearheading this first annual Latin American night with the SHPE.
The evening’s events will showcase music from many Latin American cultures including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Paraguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Brazil and Cuba.
There will also be Chiquitines, a group of children musicians, and remarks from the President of the HSA and the SHPE faculty advisor.
The HSA and SHPE brought together many members of the Hispanic and Latin American community not only for the Latin American night, but to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which took place Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
SHPE President Marco Izquierdo said, like all of the events during the heritage month, Latin American night is to introduce the MSU and Starkville communities to Hispanic and Latin American cultures.
“[Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month] we had a welcome reception, a Spanish Mass where local restaurants donated food, [and] a kickoff in the Dawg House on Oct. 1,” he said.
John L. Ramirez, graduate research assistant in civil environmental engineering, said in an effort to celebrate the month, a soccer game was held between six teams representing various Hispanic groups and members from outside the Latin American and Hispanic community.
“Soccer, as we call football, is practically a religion in Latin America,” he said. “The origin of the idea was to help integrate the Latin American and American communities. We wanted to create communication through the sport.”
The winner of the tournament will be announced tonight at the celebration in the Union.
Vladmir Alarcon, an assistant research professor, said Hispanic culture is often portrayed in a negative light in films, and this month gave Hispanics a chance to showcase all their culture can offer the community on campus.
“I think the media puts too much emphasis in crime [and] drug trafficking while forgetting the cultural aspects of the Latin American people, how Latin Americans enrich American culture, with the food and the music,” he said.
This event has brought organizations from all over campus together. Supporters include the Bagley College of Engineering, Student Association, College of Business and Department of Music.