H.O.L.A. celebrates Hispanic roots

Eva Renski Staff Writer

It is an inescapable concept in the realm of the modern era. Diversity, and the celebration of our own individual differences and triumphs, permeates every aspect of American society. The Iona campus is no different.

The Iona campus is compiled of a diverse student population. To accommodate this diversity, Iona has several clubs that are dedicated to a different nationalities and places of origin. These clubs serve to give students a place to share their ethnic experiences and give people a chance to learn about a new culture.

One of the ethnic groups that is  represented with a club is the Hispanic community. The H.O.L.A. Club (which stands for the Hispanic Organization for Latin Awareness) is an organization that seeks to teach Iona students about the roots of Hispanic culture.

“It is a student organization that upholds an appreciation for the richness and beauty of the Latin culture,” said the club’s President Melody Vega. “We strive to improve opportunities for Latino students as well as the student body as a whole.”

The H.O.L.A. Club brings students together in the hopes of improving the educational and cultural awareness of the Latin cultures. This goal is achieved through many cultural based events that they put on throughout the year. The club is also dedicated to helping others through sponsoring service projects.

H.O.L.A. is an all-inclusive group that boasts a diverse membership. They hope to enrich the lives of all members by providing many opportunities to celebrate the Latin community and provide chances for student participation on campus.

Now is a great time to get involved with H.O.L.A. Sept. 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month, which runs until Oct. 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month was originally a weeklong celebration. President Lyndon B. Johnson first announced National Hispanic Week in September of 1968. The purpose of the celebration was to honor the culture and traditions of people that hail from Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. President Ronald Reagan expanded the recognition to a month in 1988.

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and the H.O.L.A. adviser, Teresa Delgado, pointed out the importance of understanding and focusing on the heritage of the Hispanic community.

In her address at the Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, Delgado addressed the sentiments that some people may not feel they know enough about their heritage. She also commented that some people hold an ideal to live beyond ethnic labels and only identify with our common humanity.

“We can’t move toward a vision of what ought to be unless we have a clear sense of what is in the concrete actual lives of real living, breathing people,” Delgado said.

In the coming weeks, H.O.L.A. will be sponsoring a series of events that will help others gain a better understanding of the Latin community and celebrate all the community’s accomplishments. A few events have already taken place to mark the occasion, and there are sure to be many more to come.

For more information regarding H.O.L.A.’s events or possible recruitment, contact the club’s president Vega at [email protected].