L@SA’s ofrenda can be found in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom through Nov. 19.

Story by Elizabeth Schoof, Opinion Editor
Photo courtesy of L@SA

Latin@ Student Association (L@SA)  has been a beloved RSO on campus for quite some time. This organization is known around Aquinas for its efforts to create an inclusive environment for Latinx students, as well as its efforts to educate our community about the many diverse Latinx cultures.

“The best part of L@SA is that it provides others in the community with the opportunity to participate and learn more about different Latinx cultural events,” said Senior Nora Botello, the Treasurer of L@SA. “You do not have to be of Latinx descent to participate. We are all working together to help students feel included and at home here at Aquinas.”

The club is most well-known for its annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar and Latin Fest.

El Día de los Muertos celebrates the importance of remembering loved ones who have passed on. Based on the belief that the souls of loved ones can come back to visit the living between Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, families set up Día de los Muertos altars as a means of guiding their loved ones home. L@SA has created an altar in the prayer room of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom. It will be open for students to visit until Nov. 19.

This semester is coming to a quick close, but the best is yet to come! As the cold winter weather begins to warm into spring, L@SA will be putting on its annual Latin Fest.

“Latin Fest is an annual event that happens in the spring. It is our biggest one of the year. It includes food, music, entertainment and an educational component as well,” explained Botello.

Last year, Latin Fest included catered food from Mi Casa Restaurante, a Dominican restaurant located in Grand Rapids. L@SA also brought in Mexican Folkloric Dancers and Cabildo, a local band with Latin American influence.

If you are unable to attend Latin Fest, there is also the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass in the spring as well.

Interested in joining L@SA? They have monthly mixers involving snacks and socializing. Though they are typically held at The Moose, the organization does occasionally move to other areas on campus.

If you’d like to participate, you can reach out to the club’s president, Valentina Garcia at vsg001@aquinas.edu. You can also check the RSO out on Instragam out @aq_lxsa.

About the writer: Elizabeth Schoof is a junior at Aquinas studying English and Communications. She loves reading, writing, photography, and laughing at her own jokes.