University Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month

Chancellor Marty Meehan, left, greets the Hon. Judge Jose Sanchez.

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month in October, UMass Lowell hosted several events that included music, discussions, film screenings and a speaker series.

The celebration also featured readings at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival by several internally renowned poets: Rhina Espaillat, born in the Dominican Republic and winner of the Salome Ureña de Henríquez Award; Marjorie Agosín, professor of Spanish at Wellesley College and author of "Toward the Splendid City;" and Martín Espada, known as “the Latino poet of his generation” and “the Pablo Neruda of North American authors.”

Hispanic Heritage Month continued with a speaker series, “Politics Matter,” which featured presentations by Yoel Camayd-Freixas, Lindolfo Carballo, Alvaro Lima, Giovanna Negretti, Hon. Judge Jose Sanchez and Alberto Vassallo.

Students from Lawrence High’s School of Health and Human Services also attended the speaker series while spending a day visiting campus.

“We need to take care of our young people not only when they are in our doors at UMass Lowell, but way before they even show up on campus,” says Hector Torres, director of College Prep. “These are our future students, whether they come to UMass Lowell or not. I think that having high school students to events like this and asking them to participate in real discussions on topics of their interest is rather important. In fact, it is our responsibility for they are our nation’s future.”

The final event of the month was a preview film screening of “Scenes From a Parish” with a talk by director James Rutenbeck. The documentary film features the congregation at St. Patrick’s Parish in Lawrence, a mixed group of Latinos, Asians, and Anglo-Americans, and the difficulties they encounter after a division in the church.

“The events and activities were well received by the University community,” says Torres. “We need to do more and continue to engage the faculty, staff, students and the administration in general in supporting these events. The more events like these we embrace the better we will become as a university.”

To view photos from the “Politics Matter” presentations and the speakers visit to Allen House, visit the photo gallery.

- Morgan Hough