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BY KATIE MISH
The Battalion
ispanic culture is alive and well on the Texas
A&M Campus. There are over 20 Hispanic ori-
.ented groups including organizations in the
engineering and journalism departments, six tradi
tionally Latino-based sororities and fraternities, the
Ballet Folklorico and a hometown club from the Rio
Grande Valley.
The Committee for the Awareness of Mexican-
American Culture is another of these organizations,
dedicated to the education and celebration of Mexi
can culture.
Angie Castro, program adviser for CAMAC, said
when the organization was founded in 1974, the main
focus was a support system for Mexican-American stu
dents but it has branched out since then.
“It has grown into a programming committee,” Cas
tro said, “It is responsible for traditional programs such
as Diez y Seis, which is a celebration of Mexico’s in
dependence from Spain, El Dia de los Muertos, where
we remember our dead, and Las Posadas, which
marks Joseph and Mary’s visit to various houses.”
Castro said CAMAC also works toward student de
velopment and helping students find a place where
they belong.
“The support network is still there,” she said. “We
want to help people find their niche, either in our or
ganization or in other Hispanic organizations on
campus.”
Castro said membership has declined as the num
ber of Hispanic groups has increased but CAMAC is
working to bring more participation to the group.
She said the organization had 50 people at its
first meeting, and it is hoping to retain those indi
viduals and involve them in the various subcom
mittees offered.
Castro said CAMAC is also working to increase the
organization’s membership to include many different
types of students.
“It is an open committee for anyone who is inter
ested,” she said. “We’re trying to work on diversifying
our membership on an active level, on a regular basis.
“We encourage anyone who is interested in learn
ing more about the Mexican-American culture to get
involved or at least come to our programs.”
CAMAC also works to improve the Bryan-College
Station community, with its mentoring program and
by involving the community in some of their tradi
tional programs.
CAMAC will have a celebration of Diez y Seis to
morrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rudder Fountain. In
the case of rain, the festival will move to rooms 212-
224 in the MSC.
Continued from Page 4
“The importance of Diez y Seis for Mexicans and Mexican Ameri
cans is that it’s the first time that the residents of Mexico of Spanish
ancestry united with the people of indigenous ancestry against the colo
nial power of Spain,” Huerta said.
“That really was the first example of the mestizo tradition in Mex
ico, the unification of the Spanish blood with the indigenous blood and
that’s why it’s such an important event.”
Besides learning about the history behind the diverse population
that makes up the Hispanic Culture, there are other things people can
do to observe Hispanic Heritage month.
Huerta said taking time out to read the newspaper can be a way to
learn about Hispanic culture.
“There are a lot of Latino issues in the news like bilingual educa
tion and different propositions (concerning the Hispanic Community)
that are coming up,” she said.
Huerta said going to festivities offering varieties of foods from dif
ferent Hispanic cultures during Hispanic Heritage Month and learn
ing their different dances, is not always enough to truly learn about
the culture.
“Just knowing how to eat Mexican food and realizing that it’s good
stuff is not enough,” Huerta said. “It takes a little bit of work and effort.”
Other things one can do to observe Hispanic Heritage Month could
be to read books on Hispanic culture. One interesting book is Every
thing You Need to Know about Latino History by Himilce Novas, which
answers many of the commonly asked questions regarding the His
panic community.
Events held by different Hispanic groups on campus will also be
held throughout the month, which will be open to anyone wanting
to attend.
Tonight’s Unity Rally at Rudder Fountain sponsored by the Hispanic
Presidents Council will be the first.
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