Diversity is important in all walks of life, but it is especially important in a university setting. It promotes growth and healthy lifestyles by challenging preconceptions, strengthening communities, and learning to effectively communicate with those of different backgrounds. CUW has a relatively new student-focused group called the Latino Student Union (LSU) that highlights the many Latin American cultures and backgrounds and strives to bring the students of CUW together.
The idea of LSU was formed in the spring of 2022. It was organized by students and faculty who saw the need for the university to unite the Latino/a population. CUW Outreach Specialist Ana Sanchez, who is the staff advisor for the group, said that building a sense of community is the primary goal LSU strives to achieve.
“We are a student-focused group; we want to bring awareness and have students come together to create a sense of community.”
Although it is called the Latino Student Union, anyone can join this group. CUW student Giselle Torres is a member of LSU, and advocates that the group does not want to be exclusive to only some of the student body.
“We want it to be all-inclusive to everybody, and if you have the passion or the want to learn, we welcome you.”
Sanchez shared that she does not want the name “Latino Student Union” to prevent anyone who is not Latino from joining.
“The students that we have right now are so passionate about including anyone and everyone at Concordia to be part of the team,” said Sanchez. “We don’t care who you are; don’t let our term scare you away, because we want to bring people together.”
When the idea of the LSU was still being formed, the original name of the group was the Hispanic Student Union. The reason it was eventually changed to Latino Student Union is because the members wanted it to be more inclusive.
“The term ‘Hispanic’ does not incorporate a lot of the Caribbean Latino students,” said Sanchez. “We decided to switch it to Latino so we can bring in Cubans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Brazilians and such who are a part of that ‘Latino’ term and encompass everyone.”
What makes LSU different from many of the other clubs and organizations at CUW is the lack of funding the group receives from the school.
“Right now, we are not funded by the school,” Torres said. ‘It makes us stronger as a club, starting from the bottom up, and I think that is what sets us apart from other groups on campus.”
Both Sanchez and Torres advocate for the community brought together through LSU. They have worked together with the International Center to host events and share their culture with others. People of all backgrounds are able to come educate, learn, and grow together with the LSU community. With any questions regarding the Latino Student Union, reach out to Ana Sanchez for more information.
—Seth Manchester is a writer for The Beacon, the official student newspaper of Concordia University Wisconsin. Seth is a Senior Mass Communication major with a minor in Spanish.
This article was originally published on December 1st, 2022.