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The University of Louisville has become a cultural school with its own marks of diversity.
On Friday, the Spanish section of the Classic and Modern Language Department held it’s annual “Living La Vida Loca: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage” event.
This was its seventh year running, the event highlighted an overall appreciation of the Hispanic and Latino cultures, especially Mexico and Spain.
Dr. Manuel Medina, the chair of the organizing committee for the event and an associate Spanish professor of modern languages stated, “Due to the diversity of the Latin American, Hispanic and Latino cultures, we were able to only display glimpses of Mexican culture and the culture of Spain.”
Included were food, dancers representing the traditional Spanish flamenco dance and several Mexican dances and informational tables.
Also present was José Neil Donis, founding editor of Al Día en América, Louisville’s Spanish language newspaper.
Dr. Berta Calvert, Spanish professor and director of the annual study abroad program to Panama, and a Panamanian herself, was presenting information on the excursion and on the Panamanian culture.
“The event is great. There is an active Hispanic and Latino population that is growing daily,” said Calvert.
Students seemed to enjoy the event. Katie Daily, a freshman education major, said, “[The event] was interesting and I enjoyed everything going on.”
The celebration was part of an overall movement by the Spanish division and the fairly new Latin American and Latino studies programs to improve campus awareness of Spanish-speaking cultures.
“I think we are heading in the right direction,” said Medina.
“When I first came into U of L, I organized the Latin American Film Festival because there was a lack of programs dedicated to celebrating our culture.
“I like to see that we now address the social issues without forgetting our humanities roots.”
The departments also sponsor several other culture events including the annual Latin American Jewish Film Festival, and keynote panel discussions such as last year’s “Hispanic Address for the 20th Century Literature and Culture Conference,” featuring published author Perla Suez from Argentina.
“The Spanish section is very happy with this year’s success.?I thank all the people in the community who helped us to make this event possible,” said Medina.
“It’s important for students to experience other cultures and try to positively comprehend them,” said Daily.
“The reality is, we’re different in just as many ways as we are the same,” she said.
“And if we come to understand that, then we can realize how beautiful diversity can be.”
