Week to laud Hispanic culture

The campus will come alive this week with the rhythms of salsa and merengue and the flavors of Hispanic culture.

CHispA Week, the University's celebration of Hispanic heritage at UNC and in the surrounding community, kicked off Monday with the first of a series of events promoting awareness of the Carolina Hispanic Association.

"I'm excited. It's about time we spread some Hispanic culture around campus and brought it to the community," said Nathalie Wenzell-Ortiz, vice president of CHispA.

Led by 15 executive board members, the group has, for the first time in its 14-year history, organized an entire week of activities.

CHispA has undergone many changes, such as increasing its size and presence on campus, since Wenzell-Ortiz joined the group three years ago.

CHispA officials want the group to grow into an umbrella association with smaller subgroups operating underneath it, similar to the Campus Y's structure.

"The Hispanic community is growing," Wenzell-Ortiz said. "It's time the University embraces that."

Members met for dinner at Hector's on Monday after a previously arranged soccer game was cancelled because of a scheduling snafu.

A general meeting is set to be held today, and CHispA will host a forum Wednesday to discuss the DREAM Act, a bill that was reintroduced recently to the U.S. Senate after failing to pass two years ago.

The bill addresses the financial needs of high school graduates who are not citizens of the United States but who otherwise have the necessary qualifications to attend college. The DREAM Act also helps college-bound students gain U.S. citizenship.

The group will continue to assist the cause throughout the school year. CHispA will team up with El Pueblo, a nonprofit organization based in Raleigh, to sign petitions and write letters to inform the president about undocumented students who deserve to attend college.

Also during CHispA Week, salsa and merengue lessons will be offered Thursday by Que Rico, a University dance subgroup of CHispA.

The dance group has focused mainly on performing, but by giving free lessons, Que Rico is providing more than entertainment, said Cristina Garcia, secretary of CHispA.

Friday marks the beginning of the third annual Hispanic Student Recruitment Weekend, during which 40 Hispanic high school students who are ranked in the top 25 percent of their grade will be invited to attend classes and spend the night at UNC.

Fernando Soto, president of CHispA, said this weekend allows students to see what it is like to be a Hispanic student at UNC.

On Saturday, CHispA will host a charity carnival, which Soto said is a great event to teach people about the culture while benefiting Hispanic charities.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend any of the events, regardless of their heritage, officials said.

"You don't have to be Hispanic to be in the club," said Ashley Baldwin, a senior majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies who joined CHispA this year. "I thought that for a long time."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.