The Union Latino Club held a salsa night on Monday, Feb. 23 in Stover 302. The get together included a mix of popular salsas made by the students of the Union Latino Club, some group conversation and salsa dancing. 

The salsas were prepared by students and included specific ingredients from their home countries. The salsa ingredients are found in countries such as Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. The members of the club danced to popular Spanish songs as well as doing the salsa dance. 

The salsa night was created by president Lluvia Suarez. Suarez, a junior political science major, has been the president of the Union Latino Club for the past three semesters. 

Suarez has enjoyed being the president in  her time here at Waynesburg University and has especially enjoyed leading these recent semesters.

“This year has been one of the most fun years we have had,” Suarez said. “Our ideas for events are endless and they are big. We unfortunately have been having trouble getting members to attend due to busy schedules but we are gaining attendance every meeting. It has been challenging to make events as big as we want them to be but that comes with time and collaborations.”

Being the leader of a club here at Waynesburg University has had a significant impact on Suarez’s experience. Suarez also describes what it is like to be able to work with others on something that she cherishes so much.

“Union Latino [Club] has brought me several opportunities to connect with students on campus. We don’t just get Hispanics that are trying to connect but we get other ethnicities that are willing to learn and enjoy the festivities,” Suarez said. “I have had the opportunity to enhance my skills as a leader by taking the negative and making it into useful feedback. Union Latino [Club] has given me the opportunity to show Waynesburg my culture, therefore, creating understanding between people and their different backgrounds.”

“Union Latino [Club] has given me a creative outlook,” Suarez said. “I, along with my team, get to come up with fun and educational methods of sharing culture catered to Waynesburg’s interests. I have a safe place to go and be around people that are like me rather than feeling like I am different.”

Diana Hernandez, a junior public relations major, serves as the Union Latino Club’s vice president. Hernandez has been enjoying the events held by the club so far.

“This semester has started off strong. We’ve had three events so far, our cafe y conversaciones, the carnaval celebration and the salsa night. We’re definitely looking to have a lot of events and a lot of opportunities this semester,” Hernandez said. 

Hernandez has just one wish for this club –  for more people to be able to see what the Union Latino Club is all about. One of the ways that clubs grow around Waynesburg University is by having students get involved and build relationships with each other.

“Our events have been going well, we’ve just been looking to increase attendance,” Hernandez said. “Our numbers have been a little lower than in the past.”

Antonio Baires, a junior computer science major, is one of the secretaries for the Union Latino Club. Baires’ role in the club is to take notes during the  meetings and propose potential ideas for the club to do. 

Being a board member for the Union Latino Club has opened doors for Baires and has allowed him to grow with his friends.

“When I joined my freshman year, the club provided me a place to embrace my culture,” Baires said. “A lot of my friends are in the club so it’s nice to be able to hangout with them. Being from San Diego, California has put me in a spot to share a different culture.” 

Baires gives thanks to the club for improving his time and experience here at Waynesburg University.

“It’s good for me to be able to find new stuff to do. The club allows me to destress and have fun,” Baires said. “I’m also on the soccer team and am very busy with that along with school so it’s a nice place to be able to hangout and calm down.”

Seoyoun Im, a senior nursing major, is another secretary for the Union Latino Club. Similar to Baires, Im’s role in the club is to take notes and keep information that the club has in their meetings.

Im is glad that she joined and is grateful for the impact that it has made for her during the four years that she has been at Waynesburg University.

“It allowed me to be involved in the community a lot more,” Im said. “My freshman year roommate was the president of the club so it allowed me to get involved and open doors for me that I wouldn’t have thought of.” 

“It is a time for me to get time off from my studies. It lets me get a break and brings me out because I’m introverted so it gets me to hangout with people and make friends,” Im said.

The Union Latino Club will continue to hold weekly meetings every Monday for the rest of the spring semester. According to president Suarez, they will host a Hispanic History Gallery on March 16 and will have their End of the Year Fiesta on April 20. The fiesta will include food, music, games and a pinata.