¡Bienvenidos! welcomed students to a new semester with different clubs, programs, and music to kick-start National Hispanic Heritage month. The Cadena Cultural Center and A.S. co-hosted the event on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Student clubs and staff welcomed students with useful resources, snacks and prizes at different tables with flags of all nationalities adorning each tent.
Nutrition majors Aidan Hamm, Vanessa Nunez and Tyler Milliken, ran the Nutrition Club tent educating students on health resources and club information. The club wants to help students understand healthy, mindful and intuitive eating. Vice president of the club Vanessa Nunez, shared plans for future meetings.
“On our next club meeting we will be talking about the food bank. We are actually starting a cookbook soon with the food bank,” Nunez stated. “The next meeting will also hold a discussion on the health resources on campus.”
The M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan) club promoted inclusivity for the the Chicano community on campus. M.E.Ch.A brings awareness to social injustices and brings power to Chicanos and welcomes everyone to join. The club has helped FC female students with the period product drive and started the Thanksgiving Drive 49 years ago.
The club also gifted Mexican candy, colorful bags and gave out information on the Dia De Los Muertos event on Thursday Oct. 25.
Freshman ethnic studies major Jackie Rodriguez, was at the M.E.Ch.A stand talking about upcoming events and future goals for the club. She also talked about their mission statement as a club.
Rodriguez stated, “We strive to help people who are undocumented and our people. We try to give our people and families resources. We want to bring more people into our club and bring more cultures in too.”
The QPOC (queer people of color) club proudly displayed the pride flag supporting the LGTBQ community. Political science major Josue Paredes, held this booth and talked about some goals the club has.
“We really want to get things more politically engaged on campus. We want to work with A.S to get specific things done on campus like having gender neutral restrooms and free feminine hygiene products,” Paredes said.
The Cadena Cultural Center also had a booth with information about resources offered on campus like the help program for AB 540 students. The AB 540 act allows undocumented students to pay resident tuition rather than being forced to pay nonresident tuition.
From left to right : Melisa Valdovinos, Maria Laura Etcheverry, Alberto Valencia, Justine Lin and Andres Martinez. Photo credit: Jose Vazquez
The new coordinator Roberto Valencia talked about his inspiration for being part of the Cadena Center.
“Research I made on the campus indicated that students are put in the forefront here at Fullerton College. President Schulz is very open and out there with the students. It’s impressive when you see radically student center,” Valencia said.
