This past Friday was historic and divisive in many ways, as Americans both welcomed and rejected Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States.
However, for the LGBTQ Resource Center, African American Student Services, American Indian Student Services, BeKind UNM and other campus groups, this was the perfect opportunity for hosting “Honoring Culture: Advancing Social Justice.”
El Centro de la Raza Student Programs Specialist Armando Bustamante said the idea to organize the event was sparked while he and a group of students watched the 2016 presidential election results.
“They, at first, were devastated, because the campaign was an attack on everything that they are, but within minutes, they were inspired to work harder to provide people with new opportunities and information to make sure they were prepared for whatever they might face,” he said.
Bustamante said the event included a panel composed of elders, community members and students, many of whom discussed their personal histories and answered the audience’s and moderator’s questions. The event also included prayer and poetry.
“Advancing Social Justice” highlighted “the hard work that has been done and is being done by our students, faculty, staff and community members to make sure that we acknowledge and promote the rights of people that are sometimes disenfranchised,” Bustamante said.
Reina Davis, a sophomore women’s studies major, read her poetry during the event.
She said her poem emphasized how her ancestry shaped her as a woman of color and hopes the event “gave people a sense of hope and a large sense of community.”
Bustamante, who is no stranger to racism himself, said the event was a needed reminder for students to understand they have a support system within the UNM campus and community.
He said he grew up in Nebraska hearing his classmates spew racial slurs at his Latino background and his high school principal telling him not to speak Spanish, among other inequities.
“I have worked hard in my career to make sure students don’t feel this way and that they understand they don’t have to be bullied to not be who they are,” he said. “This event hopefully will help at least one student to understand that they are able to be who they are and still be successful in college.”
Diana Anraca, a freshman nursing major, said she attended the event because its name sounded interesting and indicated a powerful message. She said she believes some students need to recognize other cultures and be educated about others, which this event may have achieved.
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“This is intended to be an opening event for a semester of activities that can help us to know one another and be able to make our campus a welcoming environment that allows and encourages our students to be heard,” Bustamante said.
Davis said she hopes the event “created spaces for students to feel vulnerable and feel safe.” She explained the sense of vulnerability was needed in order to achieve self expression, which may lead to a more productive and positive future.
Executive Director of ENLACE Statewide Collaborative Lawrence Roybal gave closing remarks at the event.
Roybal later said he was grateful to be able to speak about these important issues.
During his speech, Roybal said “today’s event is about honoring cultures,” as UNM has a pool of diverse individuals who are joining together to learn as well as “to extend love and compassion to people from all around the world.”
Elizabeth Sanchez is a reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
