TCU seeks to highlight the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month

By Sydney Miller and Alexandria Salinas

Published Sep 30, 2024

Students, faculty, staff and alumni gather inside the TCU Intercultural Center for Lunar New Year’s celebrations on Feb. 9, 2024. (Zahra Ahmad/Staff Photographer)

Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, was established in 1968 as a weeklong observance before being extended to a month in 1988. It recognizes the rich cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and honors influential figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who fought for civil rights and social justice. However, despite its historical importance, many campuses, including TCU, often see this month under-appreciated, with celebrations reduced to mere token gestures.

“I feel like the Hispanic population here is kind of small. It could be overshadowed sometimes,” said Gustavo Castillo, a sophomore computer information technology major at TCU. “But I feel like most of the Hispanic students here are proud of their heritage.”

In recognition of this important month, the TCU Neeley School of Business hosted the Against All Odds event with Jennifer Treviño, an accomplished leader and executive director of Leadership Fort Worth. This event on Sept. 27, part of a new speaker series aimed at promoting diverse leaders, provided a platform for Treviño to share her insights on overcoming obstacles in the evolving global workforce. Her commitment to community outreach and collaboration reflects the values of Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighting the importance of connection and empowerment.

“I think it’s easy for Hispanic people to be left out of our history…even for me. It’s never been a focus in school when it comes to Hispanic Heritage Month,” Carlos Gutierrez, a senior musical theater major, said.

Next, TCU will host author, poet and spoken word artist Joaquin Zihuatanejo on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in the Brown-Lupton University Union Ballroom.

Students hope that TCU’s celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month continue to move beyond surface-level tokenism and instead spark deeper conversations about the contributions and struggles of the Hispanic and Latino communities.