Campus Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

SUNY Oneonta recognized National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month with an array of educational and celebratory events and activities, from guest speakers to dining and dancing.

The festivities kicked off Sept. 15 with a colorful Parade of Nations through the quad, followed by a Fiesta at the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence (CRJIE). Students and employees enjoyed delicious Hispanic cuisine and danced together.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a recognition of a particular heritage but an affirmation of the values that are the foundation of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. At SUNY Oneonta, we believe that diversity is an asset and a source of strength that energizes our collective growth and innovation.” – SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle

On Sept. 22, the university welcomed SUNY Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Ricardo Nazario y Colón to campus to deliver a keynote address, offer a public reading from his poetry collection, “The Moor of the Bronx,” and present a poetry workshop.

That night, dozens of students, employees and community members practiced their salsa skills and enjoyed a lively outdoor concert on the quad by Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra.

Throughout the month, clubs and organizations held smaller-scale get-togethers and activities. The Student Association celebrated by posting a video on social media in which student leaders from different Spanish-speaking countries shared their culture and language differences.

A new initiative – the Belonging in Oneonta Festival – served as the culminating Hispanic Heritage Month event, bringing together members of the Oneonta community, Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta for a showcase of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and resources. The event featured different foods, giant yard games, music by student musical groups Canned Peaches and DJ ZacMula, and an array of tables representing different clubs and community organizations such as the NAACP, Club Odyssey, and the Community Foundation of Otsego County. Assistant Director of Student Diversity & Engagement Matthew Rodriguez Jenkins, who coordinated the event, said the festival will become an annual tradition.

“The idea is to build a bridge between our community, Hartwick and the city and show all students that there are resources available to them,” Rodriguez Jenkins said. “We’re bringing together like-minded people who are super passionate about this work to move forward diversity, equity and inclusion efforts together, and we already can’t wait for next year.”