At the Annandale campus, the Hispanic Club was celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by conducting a literary contest Oct. 15. The contest was for students who wanted to express their creativity by writing essays or poems in English or Spanish, with the judging done by several faculty advisors.

As they were setting up their stand in the cafeteria, Hispanic Club President Kim Fauser was eager to describe the club as “not only about partying and dancing” but about having students express themselves through paper and pen. Although she’s originally from Germany, she embraced and took interest in the Hispanic culture, diversity and the language itself.

“We just wanted them to share their thoughts and feelings about the Hispanic Heritage Month theme, which is embracing the fierce urgency of now, which is the national theme for all of the country” Fauser explained.

Sadly, according to Fauser, no submissions were made.

What they were looking for in the contest was the best written work in which it had the embracement for the “urgency of now.” Fauser said that the goal was to get the message of the organization out there.

Along with the contest, the club collected donations for HIV clinics in Honduras to help support them emotionally and with finances. In addition to donating, handmade necklaces were made and sold to different organization of the clinics.

“I’m trying to sell the necklaces to advertise the culture and help the people to survive,” she said. Along with Fauser was Richard Bautista, a Bolivian native and system engineer for the campus. He’s very headstrong for the culture, and his beliefs and encouragements were bold. Living in the U.S. for 14 years, he first took notice of the club in the cafeteria.

“I use to see a group of Hispanics getting together at a table talking,” Bautista said. “I listened to them and I said, ’Wow. There’s a good number here. I don’t know why it’s not a club.’”

Ever since the club began, he’s been an active member.

Even though the contest was not a success, they will continue planning events, giving back and celebrating the Hispanic culture for what it is today. The members hope that the club becomes more noticeable.

Outside cultures joined the club and saw that this club should get the opportunity to stand out, according to Bautista.

“Our main goal is to prepare leadership for the future in any area that they can do it,” he said. “It’s a matter of providing them the tools to empower them to do activities.”

For those who have seen Hispanic dancers and singers, don’t be fooled. They are there to entertain but also to express the love for their culture and what it means to them. Listen to the beat of the drums, the strumming of guitars and, if you do or do not know Spanish, kick back and watch the expressions they give when they perform.

By: Tamika Taylor

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