Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates campus diversity

University of Houston-Clear Lake student groups and organizations celebrate diversity on campus by hosting a series of Hispanic Heritage Month events throughout the months of September and October.

“We operate in a global society and the more we learn and understand about ourselves and others, the more successful we will be as we venture out in society,” said Linda Contreras-Bullock, assistant dean of student diversity.

Hispanic Heritage Month began mid-September with a farmers market that featured homemade tamales, pumpkin empanadas, fruit and vegetables from area farmers and a variety of Mexican candy from local vendors; a showcase of Hispanic films such as “Chef,” “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors” and “Who is Dayani Cristal?,” and the first three episodes of “Latino Americans.”

The Office of Intercultural Student Services will finish off a six-part presentation of the PBS documentary series “Latino Americans” with “Episode 4: The New Latinos” Oct. 1, at 4 p.m. in the Bayou Building Garden Room. Following the film will be a presentation by Criselda Alvardo, assistant professor of Multicultural Education.

“Episode 5: Prejudice and Pride” will show Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. in the Bayou Building Garden Room with a presentation by Desdamona Rios, assistant professor of Social Psychology. “Episode 6: Peril and Promise” will close out the series Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., in the Bayou Building Forest Room with a final presentation by Christine Kovic, associate professor of Anthropology.

“The PBS series covers a broad perspective of our history, particularly the challenges of discrimination and prejudice,” Contreras-Bullock said. “Inequity in education is discussed, labor issues, and the activism that emerged from those issues. These are informative topics and discussions that are not in our history books.”

The Office of Student Life’s Film and Speaker Series brings “Underwater Dreams” to UHCL’s Bayou Theater Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. Following the film will be presentations by two of the students featured in the film, Lorenzo Santillan and activist Dulce Matuz, as well as Daniel Haworth, assistant professor of History.

“Underwater Dreams” tells the story of four undocumented Mexican immigrants from Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix who learned how to make an underwater robot in the 2004 Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s International ROV competition and defeated major engineering universities in the process.

“This highly entertaining and informative event is a unique opportunity to look past the headlines and sound bites, and explore the history and issues surrounding the current immigration debate and meet with and hear the personal stories of individuals who will be most affected by the Dream Act legislation,” said Film Curator Sonia Hernandez.

Although UHCL is categorized as a Hispanic-serving institution, HACER President Karina Acosta thinks that much could be done to make the campus more accommodating to Latino students.

“I believe that the best way to solve this miscommunication between Latino students and the institution is hiring more Latino professors or providing Spanish translators at events such as open house,” Acosta said.

Contreras-Bullock pointed out that events such as Hispanic Heritage Month are the first step toward student understanding that will lead to creating an accepting community.

“By attending Hispanic Heritage Month events, students from different backgrounds could benefit in ways such as gaining knowledge, exposing themselves to a different culture, and receiving educational and factual information about the Latino culture,” Acosta agreed.

For more information, visit the Film and Speaker Series Web page or the Office of Intercultural Student Services Web page.