Toros gather inside Loker Student Union for celebration of food, music, and community.
By Camila Chavarria, Co-Managing Editor
As Hispanic Heritage Month came to a close, the Loker Student Union kept the celebration alive with its “Latin! Love!” event on Oct. 14. Rain forced the festivities indoors, but not even the weather could dampen the spirit of community at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, honors the culture, history, and contributions of ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Nearly 70% of students enrolled at CSUDH identify as Latine or Hispanic, according to the university’s 2025 Fact Sheet.
“We try to create events that CSUDH students can hangout at LSU and learn what we have to offer, and teach hispanic and latin heritage,” said Victor Gonzalez, marketing and communications specialist for LSU. “One of the largest demographics here [at CSUDH] is Hispanic and Latinos, so we think it’s important to build campus community and culture.”
Attendees could feel the love at four stations. Dishes from across Latin America filled the tables: South American mini arepas and quesillo, Caribbean fried plantain bites and empanaditas, and North American staples like esquites and fruit cups. Refreshing agua frescas in pineapple, coconut, and cucumber flavors came with Tajín and chamoy rims.
“Agua frescas I have tried before, and the empanadas, and the esquite—but the rest I haven’t tried, and they’re good,” said Phalisha Perkins, a third-year psychology student.
Latin music from across the globe filled the air, featuring artists such as Luis Miguel, Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Maná, and Rauw Alejandro.
“It’s been an honor, as a Latino person, to DJ and play music at an event that celebrates Latino love, culture, and food,” said Benjamin Guerrero, a fourth-year audio engineering major who spins for campus radio station KDHR.
The photo booth drew inspiration from Bad Bunny’s song “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which encourages listeners to capture memories. Students snapped Polaroids framed with Latin-themed borders.
Last month, on Sept. 8, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a temporary restraining order that had barred federal immigration officials from conducting “roving patrols” and targeting people in Los Angeles and Southern California based on their appearance.
In light of the Trump administration ramping up immigration enforcement nationwide and across LA, the organizers of “Latin! Love!” aimed to deliver a message of empowerment, resilience, and unity.
“I’m honored and excited to represent and remind people that we’ve always existed, and we’re not going anywhere,” Guerrero said.
“I feel like the school is predominantly Hispanic, and recognizing that is very important, especially in this political climate,” said Branda Ramos-Zavala, a graduate student studying social work. “I think it’s really important that we all come together as a community and celebrate our different identities.”