Latinx Student Union (LSU) held their annual Latinxpalooza Friday in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center celebrating Ball State University’s Unity Week.
LSU Vice President Natalia Ramos helped organize the ‘90s themed talent show with the Latinxpalooza Committee Board.
“We all got together, and were trying to think of fun things people could dress up for [and] performers [could] do that kind of style,” Ramos said. “We ended up with ‘90s just because we thought it was really fun, and we could find a lot of things that could decorate the space.”
The three-year LSU member and fourth-year early childhood education major has felt a lot of emotions planning this event during her last year.
“I've been reminiscing. This is my first time planning it with my committee,” she said. “So, it was really heartfelt to try and get through all that, and as we were setting up, we were talking about how crazy it was that it's finally here all these months of planning, and suddenly we're here setting it up for everyone. So, it was really surreal.”
Latinxpalooza Emcee Emily Torres, first-year speech language pathology major and LSU member, loved that students could come together and be represented.
“Where I'm from, we [had] never done anything like this, and coming to Muncie I felt super out of place because I thought being here, I would be a minority,” she said. “Having this here really made me feel more comfortable and really welcomed more into the community.”
The event had two performances. The first act being ABSO Improv Comedy doing three improv games and having two members perform standup.
The second act, the Ball State Studio Band, performed seven songs honoring the ‘90s with classic hits from the time, such as “Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child.
A member of the Ball State University Studio Band plays the drums at Latinxpalooza Jan. 24 in the Student Center. The band closed out the night with "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Ella Howell, DN
Megan Selva, a vocalist in the band, said the band enjoys performing local gigs, especially for student-led organizations on campus.
“Being able to just tell our story with music, it's really nice,” she said.
With two more events left in Unity Week, Ramos appreciated that LSU was a part of it.
“It's really nice to have a big event to close up, unifying all these important groups on campus,” Ramos said.
Ending Unity Week is the Beneficence Leadership Conference in the Student Center Ballroom from 10 a.m to 1:45 p.m. Saturday and the Black Student Association 56th Annual Unity Pageant in the John J. Pruis Hall at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.
Read More
Ball State University’s Excellence in Leadership program held the sixth annual Beneficence Leadership Conference
By Shelby Anderson / 2 hours agoBall State University’s Excellence in Leadership program held the sixth annual Beneficence Leadership Conference Jan. 25 with facilitator Lauren Krznarich.
