As Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Week at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) drew to a close, Otter Thursday took on a vibrant flair that celebrated Hispanic culture in all its color. Hosted outside the Otter Student Union (OSU), Latin music playing through the speakers resonated across campus.
Pieces of Hispanic culture were found everywhere – chicken quesadillas with chips and salsa were passed out, students decorated rocks and mini pots to resemble cacti and partakers screen-printed their own HSI-themed posters.
Promoted as “Pachanga y Mercado,” the Otter Thursday event lived up to its name. “Pachanga,” Mexican slang for “a lively party,” and “Mercado,” Spanish for “market,” set the tone for an afternoon filled with music and crafts. The event showcased folklorico dancers expressing their Mexican culture and local artists selling their handmade artisanal crafts.
One of the student vendors, Marissa Torres, expressed her art’s connection to her Hispanic culture. “I’ve always been so inspired by my culture’s art. I think it’s very beautiful and so I want to reflect that through my own art.”
Torres’ table was eye-catching with its vibrant colors and Alejibre-inspired pieces. By her side, her mother gushed with affection and pride for her daughter’s artwork and celebration of their family’s culture.
Torres went on, “For me, it’s important to showcase my own culture. I’m very thankful that I do live in a place where the majority is Hispanic and I’ve always been around my culture, but not everyone is so lucky. So I think providing that sense of community for other people is really important.”
More of Torres’ art can be found on her Instagram, @artemambo_. While providing a space for artists like Torres to showcase their art, this event also celebrated the diverse Hispanic student community at CSUMB.
El Centro, the campus’s hub for Latine student success, also had a table at the event, inviting students to learn more about the organization. Ivan Caballero, one of the group’s student coordinators, said “[El Centro] has helped me grow a lot. It has made me build connections with people who are opposite of me. I think it makes you a genuine better student, a better person.”
The event aimed to allow students to embrace and celebrate their cultural heritage.
“I think when we talk about intersectionality, it’s really important that we get to know all types of cultures, not just Hispanic heritage, but all across campus,” Caballero added. “That way we can form a welcoming campus, a welcoming university.”
The event ended with a bang as students took turns striking a traditional pinata, closing out the celebration with laughter and excitement.