S.A.L.S.A. aims to ‘Spice Up Your Life’

Kent State University’s Spanish and Latino Student Association will continue its Spice Up Your Life Week with “Standing Together” Tuesday at 7 p.m. in room 206 of the Kent State Student Center.

The event will be a screening of the film “Stand and Deliver.” According to IMDB.com, the movie is based on the true story of an English teacher successfully inspiring his dropout-prone students to learn calculus.

Jinre Holman, sophomore pre-accounting major and president of S.A.L.S.A., said that despite the fact that the movie is about a high school, its message about building relationships between students applies to Kent’s campus.

“Although we’re in college, I think the point is still significant because the Latino/Hispanic students here on campus aren’t necessarily involved in the culture or in getting to know each other on campus,” Holman said. “S.A.L.S.A., [along] with the new fraternity, Phi Iota Alpha, are trying to build those connections and getting more students involved.”

Wednesday at 7 p.m. in room 204 of the Kent Student Center will be Conversaciones. This event is a language building workshop to encourage people to practice their Spanish with peers and staff.

Victor Benton, freshman Spanish literature, culture and translation major and member of S.A.L.S.A., has played an active role in the planning of this event.

“The focal point of this event is for all of the students who may feel timid speaking in a class room setting to be able to enjoy a free speaking conversation,” Benton said.

`Thursday at 6 p.m. in room 316 of the Kent Student Center is the Women’s Speakers Series. Holman said that this event is S.A.L.S.A.’s way of incorporating Spice Up Your Life with Women’s History Month. Yvette Mendoza, Dr. Anita Maldonado and Amanda Paniagua will be discussing the challenges they’ve faced being Latina women and then act as a panel to answer questions.

Friday at 6 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room in Oscar Ritchie Hall will be the Latin Night Fiesta, which is the final event for Spice Up Your Life Week. Taco Tontos, a local restaurant on Franklin Avenue in downtown Kent, will be providing chicken, rice, beans and salsa for the fiesta. Holman said that this event is to build camaraderie and attendance with a night filled with music, dancing and fun.

For more information on S.A.L.S.A.’s event or Spice Up Your Life week, contact Holman at [email protected].

Contact Kelsey Leyva at [email protected].