Latino-inspired music and food were enjoyed by many yesterday in the Visual Arts Building in celebration of the Latina/o minor now available at Penn State.
The reception, attended by about 60 people in the Zoller Gallery breezeway, marked the institution of the Latina/o studies minor, which won approval in June, said Jane Juffer, director of Latino Studies Initiative.
"This is a monumental event in the history of this campus because it is the first time that many have gathered in one physical place to discuss Latino studies," Grace Delgado, associate professor of history, said.
The event began with a brief history of the Latino curriculum at Penn State followed by an introduction of the staff members within the Latino studies department.
"By broadening the Latino studies department we are culturally expanding the Latino culture to all students," said Raquel Jones, vice president of Latino Caucus.
The Latino courses offered this semester include Latina/o Studies 100 (Introduction to Latina/o Studies), Latina/o Studies/Women's Studies 300 (Latina Feminism), History 467 (U.S. and Latin American Relations), Spanish 497B (Latina/o Popular Culture) and English 597A (Latina/o Cultural Studies).
"There has already been an overwhelming response," said Roselyn Costantino, professor of Spanish and women's studies. "We had to keep extending the class limit because so many students wanted to get in."
Three other courses will be added in the spring including Latina/o Studies 315 (Spanish in the United States), World Languages Education 444 (Language, Culture and the Classroom -- Issues for Practitioners) and Latina/o Studies/Spanish 326 (Reading the Border/Lands).
A speaker series discussing the main issues in shaping the Latina/o studies in the U.S. will begin in October.
This is a fabulous start to something that finally recognizes the Latina/o community, Costantino said.
"The Latino studies minor is not only important to the Latino students but to undergraduate students at large," said Santiago Vaquera, associate professor of Spanish.
