Unidos Through Ethnicity

   In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Latino clubs at Andrews University are offering co-curricular opportunities with the theme of community and staying united. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Departments of History and Political Science and International Languages & Global Studies hosted a co-curricular event titled “Unidos Through Ethnicity.” Organizers formatted this event as a discussion panel which was moderated by Gabriella Pechero, the Religious Vice President of the Andrews University Latino Association (AULA). It was eye-opening to hear how the panelists learned to be proud of their Hispanic and Latino identities, especially in the United States and at Andrews.
   When asked about what they perceived as the difference between race and ethnicity, many of the panelists stated that to them, race was a social construct that was encapsulated by physical characteristics. Meanwhile, ethnicity was more of the cultural aspects and language. Many of the panelists stated that they did not look like the stereotypical Latino or Hispanic person and they delved into how it was difficult for them to claim their identity. It was difficult for them to seamlessly integrate into society because they were multiracial and people would try to simplify their race. Others mentioned how tough it was to be proud of their culture, growing up in a place where Hispanics and Latinos were the minority.
   Salim Villanueva (junior, mechanical engineering, spanish translation) was one of the panelists. She says, “It’s not easy being born in a country where they don’t understand your ethnicity and mis-identify you to what they think is right. Hearing everyone’s point of view on the topic was intriguing because all of us come from different households yet still have the same cultural beliefs which are pretty amazing.”
   Petala Santos (freshman, political science) says, “we could share our stories and be accepting of others. It is important to avoid defining people by how they look and be willing to learn people’s stories.” On the Andrews campus, groups like AULA, Makarios, and Adelante are trying to accomplish that. Ms. Pechero (senior, animal science) says that “even though we all identify as Hispanic, we are from different countries, and depending on where you are, it impacts the culture that you grew up in. If you are Hispanic, Latino, or are looking for a place to fit in, there is a welcoming community here at Andrews. We believe that it is important to be loud and proud of your culture.” As voiced by members of the AULA association and its community, AULA is a club for Hispanics, Latinos, and Non-Hispanics where members of those groups can share their experiences and joyously celebrate their cultures with others.