Heritage months should be year long

Although Latino Heritage Month has passed, it is important to take time to reflect upon the events and dynamics of the month in order to make improvements. Heritage and awareness months are a great way of bringing attention to a cause or a mission, but they can also be limiting. Often we feel restricted by the number of days in the month and plan as many events as possible to fill that time. Too often we do not have adequate space to discuss our views and engage in fruitful discourse. We hope to provide a forum for students to engage in similar conversations in the preceding months, not just in October.

We were delighted with the attendance and support we received from different communities in the month of October. We focused on putting together fewer events of quality that would attract people from different communities and groups. Given the importance of Latino Heritage Month at Columbia, we plan to support Latino groups and our allies while encouraging students to use us as a resource throughout the year. We also envision working on other events which promote Latino heritage and collaboration among different groups. Additionally, we hope to work with the Office of Multicultural Affairs in order to encourage broader involvement of Latino organizations in Columbia’s student group scene.

There any many advantages to organizing events outside of Latino Heritage Month. Hosting events throughout the year can help us establish and maintain relationships with other organizations. In past years we have collaborated with the Queer Awareness Month committee for a common meal event where we discuss an issue that affects both the Latino and queer communities. Because this event was successful, we have consistently incorporated it into Latino Heritage Month. In the month of October, we also collaborated with groups such as the Columbia Political Union, Students for Education Reform, Black Organization of Soul Sisters, and others.

Something we have learned from the events we have hosted is that our community cares and likes to discuss issues affecting Latino groups and other minorities in general. For example, in our educational event, Educación Sin Barreras (Education without Barriers), we discussed obstacles faced by students that prevent them from reaching their full potential. In a room with more than 50 students and professors, we discussed this issue and heard from students with different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Latinos are a growing population—not just in this country but also on this campus—and we should promote cultural appreciation of this minority. Instead of planning many events in one month, we can have a larger impact on Columbia by being present throughout the academic year. This is too big an issue to be confined to October.

The author is a Columbia College senior majoring in sociology and Hispanic Studies. She was the chair of the 2011 Latino Heritage Month Committee.