By: T’Neil Gooden
On Oct. 7, Brooklyn College’s Mexican Heritage Student Association (MEHSA) welcomed students to their general meeting with Lotería, snacks, and a community filled with diverse heritages. Students of Mexican, Guatemalan, Dominican, and many other backgrounds filled the room.
“There’s been no Mexican community on campus for as long as I’ve been here, so seeing this club form in real time & being able to share our culture across campus has been an amazing opportunity for all of us on the e-board,” said Elizabeth Vargas, Social Media Manager at MEHSA.
MEHSA opened its meeting with a presentation explaining the importance of having its community be available to BC students, along with having opportunities to connect with other MEHSA groups in the City University of New York (CUNY).
“Students should join MEHSA because we are already a large community of people starting this club, and I think it’s a great way to make new friends, especially if you are new to Brooklyn College,” said Maria De La Cruz, treasurer for MEHSA. “It’s a way to make more friends. But we are also a community that cares about the world around us, we care to have a voice, and we want to be known, not as the new Mexican clubs, but as a club for all people!”
Students filled the room with knowledge and chatter as Lotería playing cards were distributed to over 20 students within the meeting. Lotería is a board game of chance, much like bingo, allowing there to be a steady tradition of competition.
“I loved playing lotería with everyone! They were so welcoming and funny. I even won!” said Myasia Brown, a junior at BC. “Just being relaxed and fully enjoying my time from my stressful schedule was the best feeling in the world.”
MEHSA made sure that Loteria was not played without students being rewarded, allowing the game to be quite intense.
“My favorite part of the event was meeting new people and winning a concha after winning a round of a traditional Mexican game called loteria,” said Jocelyn Tapia, a junior at BC.
MEHSA prides itself on providing inclusive activities and a space that will allow students to be in touch with their diverse heritages.
“What MEHSA means to me is community. Even though I’m a first-generation Mexican American & identify myself as Mexican, I wasn’t raised the same way as other Mexican people around me,” Vargas told The Vanguard. “I never learned how to dance, I never learned the slang, etc., so having a community like MEHSA makes me feel like I’m filling the cultural gap that I never knew existed growing up. It 100% makes me feel closer to my culture and my identity.”
Students were able to listen to the importance of having a MEHSA organization on the BC campus, as it is the first time MEHSA has been created for students.
“MESHA to me means inclusivity and fun, community, and a safe space to be yourself. I would like to think that the rest of my community thinks the same about it. Just based on our first event, I felt like I was sitting around with family and having a gathering or a party,” De La Cruz told The Vanguard. “It brought up so many good feelings about restarting this club, it feels as though my team and I an on the right track of once graduating, this club will continue with new members.”
Students used this event to meet other individuals and participate in games and traditions that were common in their households and can now be common on the BC campus.
“This event was so important for BC students to know about, because it’s a way for MEHSA to rebuild its standing on campus,” said De La Cruz. “This year’s club is a restart from the club that was discontinued when the seniors running graduated. We are here to support all people of Latin American descent as well as non-Latin American people, people of all cultures and backgrounds, welcome!”
MEHSA believes in the importance of having sources available for students who need them, whether for a place to speak about their culture or an atmosphere where they can learn more about their culture.
“Students should join MEHSA because we’re the best club! They should join so they can surround themselves with people who are like them. There were a few people at our event who mentioned that, despite being half Mexican or full Mexican, they knew nothing about the culture, Vargas told The Vanguard. “With everything going on in our country right now, I feel that it’s important to remember your roots as a Mexican and remember where you come from. I truly believe people should join to learn more about their/our beautiful and rich culture and find themselves along the way!”
Students interested in the MEHSA can visit their Instagram, @bc.mehsa25.