'Day of the Dead' lives at UP

By Rose Hoonan Staff Writer hoonan15@up.edu

Around 350 people – students, professors, families and children – filled St. Mary's Student Center with large smiles and appetites last Thursday, Nov. 3, to celebrate Día De Los Muertos, or the "Day of the Dead."

Día De Los Muertos was planned by the Multicultural Programs Services and hosted by volunteer students.

According to senior Yaneira Romero, founder of UP's MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan), the goal was to spread cultural awareness.

"As a group, we wanted to showcase something that was very close to home which is a Mexican celebration that honors our loved ones," she said.

In the Latino tradition, families make altars to honor the deceased. Generally, family members hold celebrations in cemeteries and decorate the tombs of their loved ones with flowers, candles and offerings.

In commemoration of his life, a picture of Steve Watson was placed upon the altar in St. Mary's. Watson, who was the former assistant director of Public Safety, died on Oct. 25 in a midair plane crash.

"We wanted to honor one of our campus staff that had recently passed," Romero said.

The altar was also decorated with traditional offerings for deceased loved ones, including marigolds, flickering candles and food offerings.

The Hispanic student population at UP has grown significantly. As of 2011, 262 undergraduate students identified themselves as Hispanic, contrasted with 89 in 2002, according to the University of Portland's Institutional Research.

For many students involved in MEChA, events such as Día De Los Muertos are an important part of life.

"(It) helps me learn more about my culture," freshman and MEChA member Jaclyn Sisto said.

Freshman and Latin Dance Club member Yelitze Hernandez agreed.

"You can relate to others in the group, and it creates a sense of community," Hernandez said.

According to Sisto, MEChA has helped create fellowship and cultural awareness for the UP community.

"Being half Mexican, I think it's important to be aware of issues such as immigration," Sisto said. "Education and political involvement are outlets that students involved in MEChA are encouraged to explore, and by doing that we are changing society. It also gives people a safe, comfortable place where they can come together and celebrate their culture and even learn new things about it."

During the event, two traditional Mexican bands performed. The second group featured dancers adorned in lacy white dresses and ornate braided headbands, who danced an entire song while balancing candles on their heads.

"The music and performances (were) really great!" said Hernandez.

Booths were set up for students to do crafts such as sugar-skull decorating, a yarn-and-popsicle stick activity called Ojo de Dios ("God's Eyes") and creating tissue paper flowers.

To encourage participation, some Spanish professors required students to attend the event.

"If I would have known it was this fun, I would have come, assignment or not!" freshman James Leonard said.