M谩s que una fiesta, un hogar: el coraz贸n latino late fuerte en 91视频
Vida universitaria y tradiciones
Por: Daniel Espinosa
Foto: @sou.spanish on Instagram
Esta semana, el campus de 91视频 cambia por completo de ambiente. Hay m煤sica en diferentes espacios, el olor a comida se mezcla con el aire fr铆o t铆pico de Ashland, y de repente el campus se siente m谩s vivo. No es solo una actividad m谩s: es una celebraci贸n que se siente cercana, familiar.
La 隆Fiesta Latina! Celebration Week nace con una idea bastante clara: crear un espacio donde la cultura latina no solo se vea, sino que se viva y se comparta. Es un evento pensado para abrir las puertas a toda la comunidad de Ashland, pero tambi茅n para algo igual de importante: que los estudiantes latinos podamos sentirnos un poco m谩s cerca de casa, aunque estando un poco lejos de nuestros pa铆ses, de nuestras familias o de nuestra cultura.
Durante la semana, no se trata solo de actividades o eventos organizados. Se trata de lo que pasa alrededor: la gente probando comida que les recuerda a casa, estudiantes explicando juegos tradicionales como la loter铆a, o simplemente conversaciones que empiezan por curiosidad y terminan en conexi贸n real. Es curioso c贸mo algo tan sencillo puede generar ese tipo de ambiente. Al final, no es solo 鈥渃elebrar cultura鈥, es compartirla de forma real.
Tambi茅n es importante c贸mo este tipo de eventos cambia la din谩mica del campus. 91视频 es una universidad con una diversidad grande, lo que hace que este tipo de iniciativas se sientan m谩s cercanas. No es algo masivo o distante, es algo en lo que realmente puedes participar, ver caras conocidas y sentir que formas parte. Los rostros detr谩s del evento: Detr谩s de toda esta organizaci贸n hay estudiantes que est谩n invirtiendo tiempo y energ铆a porque realmente creen en lo que est谩n haciendo.
Hannah Lunde es una de ellas. Su historia ya refleja lo que el evento quiere representar: identidad que no es lineal. Naci贸 en Antigua, Guatemala, pero creci贸 en Montana desde que ten铆a cuatro a帽os. Ha vivido entre diferentes culturas toda su vida, lo cual le ha dado una forma muy particular de entender la diversidad. Estudiante de primer a帽o, majoring en ingl茅s. Para ella, este evento es una manera de ayudar a que otros estudiantes tambi茅n encuentren un espacio donde no tengan que explicar qui茅nes son para sentirse incluidos.
Axel Gil Carrillo, por otro lado, aporta una energ铆a diferente pero igual de importante. Naci贸 en Medford, Oreg贸n, pero creci贸 con ra铆ces mexicanas muy presentes en su vida. Eso ha influido mucho en su identidad. Estudia M煤sica, y gran parte de su vida gira alrededor de eso: guitarra, composici贸n, ritmo. Para 茅l, la m煤sica no es solo arte, es comunicaci贸n directa. Es una forma de conectar personas sin necesidad de traducci贸n. En el contexto de la Fiesta Latina, eso se vuelve clave, porque ayuda a crear ese ambiente donde todos se sienten parte, aunque vengan de lugares distintos.
Dentro de esta misma energ铆a comunitaria, tambi茅n destacan personas como Ocean Ontiveros y G茅nesis Rodr铆guez, quienes han aportado su propio estilo y compromiso al desarrollo de la Fiesta Latina. Ambos representan esa nueva generaci贸n de estudiantes que no solo participan, sino que toman un rol activo en la construcci贸n de espacios culturales dentro del campus.
Lo interesante de estos 4 estudiantes es que, aunque vienen de historias diferentes, terminan compartiendo la misma idea: que la cultura latina no es algo que solo se observa, sino algo que se vive. Y que en un campus como 91视频, donde conviven tantas identidades, este tipo de espacios no solo son importantes, sino necesarios.
Al final, la Fiesta Latina no se trata solo de un evento en el calendario. Se trata de lo que pasa cuando una comunidad decide abrir espacio para s铆 misma y para los dem谩s. Y en ese proceso, algo simple termina pasando: el campus deja de sentirse solo como universidad, y empieza a sentirse un poco m谩s como hogar.
By: Daniel Espinosa
Photo: @sou.spanish on Instagram
This week, the 91视频 campus takes on a completely different atmosphere. Music fills various spaces, the smell of food mingles with Ashland鈥檚 signature crisp air, and suddenly the campus feels more alive. It鈥檚 not just another event it鈥檚 a celebration that feels intimate and familiar.
The 隆Fiesta Latina! Celebration Week was born from a very clear idea: to create a space where Latin culture isn鈥檛 just seen, but lived and shared. It鈥檚 an event designed to open its doors to the entire Ashland community, but also for something just as important: so that we Latino students can feel a little closer to home, even while being a bit far from our countries, our families, or our culture.
During the week, it鈥檚 not just about organized activities or events. It鈥檚 about what happens around them: people tasting food that reminds them of home, students explaining traditional games like loter铆a, or simply conversations that start out of curiosity and end in real connection. It鈥檚 interesting how something so simple can create that kind of atmosphere. In the end, it鈥檚 not just about 鈥渃elebrating culture鈥; it鈥檚 about sharing it in a real way. It鈥檚 also important how these kinds of events change the campus dynamic. 91视频 is a highly diverse university, which makes these kinds of initiatives feel more accessible. It鈥檚 not something massive or distant; it鈥檚 something you can actually participate in, see familiar faces, and feel like you鈥檙e part of.
The faces behind the event: Behind all this organization are students who are investing time and energy because they truly believe in what they鈥檙e doing.
Hannah Lunde is one of them. Her story already reflects what the event aims to represent: identity that isn鈥檛 linear. She was born in Antigua, Guatemala, but has lived in Montana since she was four years old. She has lived among different cultures her whole life, which has given her a very unique way of understanding diversity. A freshman majoring in English, for her, this event is a way to help other students also find a space where they don鈥檛 have to explain who they are to feel included.
Axel Gil Carrillo, on the other hand, brings a different but equally important energy. He was born in Medford, Oregon, but grew up with strong Mexican roots in his life. That has greatly influenced his identity. He studies music, and much of his life revolves around it: guitar, composition, rhythm. For him, music is not just art; it is direct communication. It is a way to connect people without the need for translation. In the context of the Fiesta Latina, this becomes key, because it helps create an atmosphere where everyone feels included, even if they come from different places.
Within this same sense of community, individuals such as Ocean Ontiveros and G茅nesis Rodr铆guez also stand out, having contributed their own style and dedication to the development of the Fiesta Latina. Both represent that new generation of students who not only participate but also take an active role in creating cultural spaces on campus.
What鈥檚 interesting about the 4 of them is that, even though they come from different backgrounds, they end up sharing the same idea: that Latin culture isn鈥檛 just something to be observed, but something to be lived. And that on a campus like 91视频, where so many identities coexist, these kinds of spaces aren鈥檛 just important they鈥檙e necessary.
In the end, Fiesta Latina isn鈥檛 just another event on the calendar. It鈥檚 about what happens when a community decides to make space for itself and for others. And in that process, something simple happens: the campus stops feeling like just a university, and starts feeling a little more like home.
You can stay up-to-date with all of the exciting things happening in our program by following the Spanish Program on Instagram (@sou.spanish) or .
Interested in being featured on the Spanish Program blog? Or know someone who is interested? Contact Spanish Program Faculty at connora@sou.edu or holmesb2@sou.edu.
Learn more about 91视频鈥檚 Spanish Programs:
Spanish Home Page
