Today: Nov 03, 2024

Churros and tattoos with OLAS

By Lexi White

Features Editor 

photo | lexi white
Nursing majors and twin sisters Joselle Ventosa and Janelle Ventosa, seniors, with churros.

The sweet smell of cinnamon filled the air as students decorated their arms with artistic designs while listening to Hispanic music.  

The Organization of Latin American Students provided a safe space for students of Hispanic descent to spend their afternoon on Oct. 14. 

The organization’s president, sociology major Yasieli Perez, a senior, said that she wanted the event to be an outlet for Latin American students on campus.  

“We help Latin American students seek higher education because most of them are lower income students and are the first member of their family to go to college,” Perez said. 

She said that she went to school in a predominantly white town as a kid and was the only Afro-Latina student there.

 She said that she felt like she did not fit in with her classmates, so she wanted to help others who had similar experiences to find their place on campus. 

OLAS distributed churros with chocolate sauce to honor Mexican household traditions. The organization wanted to help Latin students who attended their event feel comfortable and at home.  

“It makes me so happy to create a safe space for students who look like me and give them something that relates to their culture,” Perez said. “I wanted to help them feel like they belong because it helps make me feel like I belong too.” 

Nursing majors and twin sisters Joselle Ventosa and Janelle Ventosa, seniors, attended the event specifically for the churros. They wanted to have something quick to eat after the class they had together.   

“Lots of people like free food,” Joselle Ventosa said. “If they hear that an event is going to have free food, they are definitely going to go to it.” 

Janelle Ventosa said that free food is a great incentive to get students involved on campus and break out of their shells.  

“I haven’t eaten anything today, so it’s nice that I can get a free snack here,” Janelle Ventosa said. 

The treasurer of OLAS, business administration major Catalina Espinosa, a sophomore, decided that the churros were not enough for their event.

 She suggested that the organization should also provide temporary tattoos of butterflies, skulls, flowers, hearts, planets and more to help students express their creative sides.  

“Obviously the majority came for the churros, but the temporary tattoos were another thing that could get people interested,” Espinosa said.  

Tourism, hospitality and event management major Mackenzie Broderick, a freshman, said that she only came to the event to give herself a temporary tattoo. 

She chose a bunch of designs that fit her interests: a planet tattoo because she loves astrology and an hourglass because it reminded her of a YouTube channel she used to watch. 

“This event gives students a great place to hang out with their friends,” Broderick said. “They are able to express themselves with tattoos and have a churro for a nice snack in between classes.” 

OLAS will be hosting a gala on Nov. 7 in the Adanti Student Center Ballroom at $10 a ticket. All proceeds from this event will go towards a scholarship fund for Hispanic students at the university. 

Tourism, hospitality and event management major Mackenzie Broderick, a freshman, showing off her temporary astrology tattoo.

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