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One
of the most invigorating features of UNT Dallas is the rich
cultural and linguistic diversity of our campus community. Our
multicultural student body, staff and faculty are what make us
a truly progressive, modern and happening place to be. In Spanish, when you speak of a place with lots of life, good feelings and a great environment (ambiente), you can say that it has sabor, like a special flavor all its own that attracts people for a good time. On Feb. 19, we took the party off-campus into the community. |
Hatchett |
A group of UNTD students, faculty, staff and
community friends enjoyed a sabroso multicultural experience at
the Latino Cultural Center (LCC) in downtown Dallas. The LCC is a
division of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs serves to
preserve and promote Hispanic art and culture and is a beautiful
venue.
In keeping with our pillar of public engagement, I sought an op-portunity to bring our Jaguars from the newly formed Sabor La-tino Dance Club—advised by Gloria Bahamon—and the Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO)—advised by Jacqueline Romano—along with professors Marco Shappeck, Maria Ciriza-Lope, Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore, Susan Wolfe and their spouses and other community friends for an evening of unforget-table rhythms, songs and dances from the Dominican Republic.
The popular sounds of the bachata, merengue, son and vals were interpreted by famous musicians “Mr. Puerto Plata” Jose Cobles, Joan Soriano and their band. What made the evening special was that we all had a shared affective learning experi-ence by embracing what for many was a new cultural group.
Dominicans are Caribbean people with roots in Africa, Spain and the Americas. The music also is a mix of cultural influences that can be felt in the exciting rhythms of the tambora, guira, gui-tarra and accordion. While the largest Hispanic cultural group in the D-FW Metroplex is Mexicano, many other Spanish-speaking Hispano/Latino cultures enrich our lives with their arts, cuisine, unique histories, music and style. The Dominican Republic—which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti (French and Cre-ole-speaking)—celebrates its independence day on Feb. 27, hence the bachata concert dedicated to the history and musical roots of this modern genre. We learned that education does not
Our
group of UNTD students, faculty and staff enjoyed a sabroso
mul-ticultural
experience at the Latino Cultural Center in downtown Dallas.
stop at the doors of the university. Education is in the commu-nity. It is learning about the beautiful peoples from other cul-tures and backgrounds who make up our thriving metropolis.
Did you know, for example, that there are more than 200 Afri-can languages spoken in Dallas? This is an international city where nearly every world culture is represented. Our univer-sity also is close to downtown Fort Worth—the heart of West-ern Swing music, the iconic Billy Bob’s and Cowtown. Whether you like polka, Cajun music, Arabic music, Indian music, Turkish music or American Indian powwows, it is all here in D-FW, and we are D-FW. Our campus represents the beauty in diversity of this glorious city. I foresee that in the near future people will flock to UNTD, not only for its academic programs but also for its 21st century attitude toward opening doors to the future.
This is an exciting and challenging time for the world. Young people in the Middle East, Latin America, China, India and all over the globe are seeking a voice, a chance to participate in the making over of the world. That is the challenge of each generation—to find its own voice.
At UNTD we have many voices to hear. We already are ahead of the rest. “We are the World.” Let us embrace our shared cultural experiences and lead the pack into the 21st century with optimism, joy and caring. Let’s make a UNTD education truly transformational and confluent—educating the whole person.