By Andrea Weiner

The Latin Expedition brings the Hispanic culture to NMU as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The event is at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 in Whitman Commons. It will have a presentation on Hispanic heritage and the benefit of studying abroad within the Latin culture, dance and food workshops and guest speakers.

Some of the goals for the event are to create awareness of the Latin culture, bring Hispanic culture to NMU and get students thinking about studying abroad in the Latin culture. There is no cost for this event.

“I think a lot of students don’t know what our culture is about,” said Natalie Avila, a junior criminal justice major, president and founder of the Latino Student Union.

The Latino Student Union is a student organization on campus that promotes the Hispanic heritage. The dance workshops will include merengue, bachata and cumbia dancing, and then open floor dancing.

Merengue is a fast paced dance with lots of turning and moving of the hips. Bachata is a slow paced dance with a four beat step and hip movement.

Cumbia is a fast paced dance but can also be a slow paced dance. It has a lot of turning and fancy footwork. All of these dances originated from Latin America.

The music at the dance workshops will consist of both Spanish and English music.

“It’ll broaden (the students’) horizons,” said Shirley Brozzo, associate director of the Multicultural Education and Resource Center. “(It’ll) show cultures that aren’t their own, or reaffirm it if it is.”

One of the soft drinks going to be served is Jarritos, Mexico’s national soft drink. Last year, the Latino Student Union had Dining Services to serve it, Avila said. Another drink being served is horchata, which is a rice water drink.

The food workshop of the Latin Expedition is being brought to campus by the Spanish Club, and they are going to be making Mexican hot chocolate. The ingredients include cinnamon and chili powder.
“It’s beneficial for students to get a taste of diversity,” Avila said.

In 1988, Ronald Regan expanded Hispanic Heritage Month to a 30-day period, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Eight countries gained their independence in 1821 during this time period: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.

Last year at NMU, there wasn’t any event to celebrate Hispanic History Month. Latino Student Union wanted to share its heritage with students of NMU and the U.P., Avila said.

This event is one of four events this month. There was a Latin Food Workshop on Sept. 15.

Piñata Bash which was held Wednesday, Sept. 21 gave students the opportunity to learn about Hispanic heritage and help raise funds for the Latino Student Union.

The last event, Sabor Latino, will take place 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in the Cadillac Room of the University Center. This event will be a dance workshop, with free dancing after the workshop that Radio X will disc jockey.

“(The Latin Expedition) is a great mixer,” Brozzo said. “(It’s a) great way to meet other people, especially if there from a different culture. Good to get outside your own box.”