Marina Bravo
Arts Editor
The Latino Student Forum created an environment of community and inclusivity as they welcomed students and ULV community members to their Open Mic. This event granted students the opportunity to share their feelings about the current political climate and state of the world.
The Open Mic was held Tuesday at Citrus Lawn. Along with the LSF, Director of Multicultural Affairs Daniel Loera hosted the event. There were about 20 people in attendance. There was pan dulce and chocolate Abuelita being offered.
“What we wanted to do was to bring light to the darkness,” Kesia Loma Quintero, junior biology major and LSF treasurer said. “It is important to express ourselves and have a platform to do it on campus.”
Before the Open Mic was open to the public to speak, Loera began the event by honoring the land of the Tongva people.
“Part of this was made to create a space so that we don’t feel that we’re the only people feeling and experiencing this,” Loera said.
“People are living in two different realities right now,” Loera said. “You can be living a normal life and be attuned and turn to your left and it is absolute chaos.”
At the event there were tables for students and ULV staff to gather at and take the time to answer the questions that were on each table.
“With all that is going on ,what is something you want others to hear? With all that is going on, what is something you are struggling with? With all that is going on, what has brought you joy recently even in small ways?”
Along with this, students and community members shared poems and writing pieces to express themselves.
University alumna and counselor at Mt. San Antonio College, Yasmin Cardona presented a poem she wrote that she dedicated to migrants and to her dad.
The powerful piece explored themes of fear, systemic issues and social injustices. She reminded everyone that unity is powerful.
“If we stop asking permission to live in a world we already sustained,” Cardona said. “If we choose each other again, we will get there.”
LSF president and senior biology major, Sophie Santana, urged her peers and community members to come together and participate in their community.
“I do encourage you to go to your local city hall meetings,” Santana said. “We cannot just repost on Instagram, we can’t just come out here today, this is a movement that has to be continuous. We need to work together.”
The Open Mic featured expression through music. Assistant sociology and criminology professor Alessandro Morosin and assistant professor of music Victoria Romano came together to perform a Yiddish traditional song titled “Ale Brider,” which stands for We’re All Brothers.
“Joy is resistance,” Romano said. “This meaning found in this song was passed down and is actually from the 19th century when there were pogroms in Europe.”
“This song survived and made its way,” Romano said. “It survived down through generations and now I can share it today.”
Although the topics of the events were heavy, the community that came together was able to share and celebrate each other by being present and supportive of each other’s expression.
It was a testament that as a community one is not alone, that one can find even one person that will open the space to share.
“Everyone’s voice, presence, expression whatever it is, it matters,” Jasmine Gutierrez, senior psychology major, LSF member and IDEAS club president said. “Everyone should come together and celebrate but most importantly listen to each other.”
Marina Bravo can be reached at marina.bravo@laverne.edu.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
