Mecha hosts festivities
By Michael Moeschler
Last week students from the Multi Cultural Center promoted Latino diversity at Santa Clara during Mecha el Frente Week. The week-long event celebrated Latino culture, custom, and community.
Mecha el Frente Week highlighted the identity of a small community on the Santa Clara campus. Sophomore Alejandra Lizardo, co-chair of Mecha el Frente, believed the week was a successful because of the support from other organizations and increased student interest.
"We did co-sponsorships with SCCAP and The Bronco," said Lizardo. "We didn't make it seem lake a Latino thing, we made people feel welcome from other cultures."
The week brimmed with events that welcomed the entire university community to participate. A lecture by Professor Ram--n Chac--n, on the significance of Cinco de Mayo, followed by Aztec dancing in the Alameda Mall, kicked off the celebration last Monday. Guest lecturer, Spanish Professor from UCLA Guillermo E. Hernandez, spoke about corridos, the narrative Latino poems set to music. A Mariachi band performed in Mission Gardens and there were several events hosted in The Bronco, including a variety show, Noche Gigante, and a concert.
Lizardo also attributed the week's success to the use of several venues, including The Bronco, Mayer Theatre, Mission Gardens and the Alameda Mall.
"We want these events to be out there, not hidden away in Brass Rail," she said. "We're getting people interested. It's not just Latinos participating but others as well."
The week's events drew large numbers of students. More than 120 people attended The Bronco last Wednesday to dance and listen to the Cuban and Latino music. Son de Santa Clara, a Cuban music group sponsored by the university, began the evening with salsa dancing and music. Firme, a band specializing in an eclectic mix of Latin jazz, hip-hop and punk played for the rest of the celebration.
The events closed on Saturday evening with an all-Spanish mass in the mission led by Paul Fitzgerald, S.J. After the mass, students and their families attended a dinner in Market Square. With an attendance of over 200 people, the meal was the biggest success of the week.
The dinner was highlighted with a ballet folklorico, a performance that included diverse styles of dance from the Latino culture. The dance performance was followed by a fashion show that emphasized the various styles of fashion from the different regions of Mexico.
In past years, the celebration was called Cinco de Mayo Week, but the name was changed to be more inclusive of all Latino cultures. Mecha el Frente translates as the Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan. El Frente is included in the title to encompass all Latino cultures, not just Mexican American and Chicano.
As more students become introduced to the Latino community of Santa Clara University, the future of Mecha el Frente Week looks healthy.
"We're a small community out here, but if we keep on standing out, if we keep doing things to make others aware of what we're about, then we'll get bigger," said Lizardo.