The 4th Annual Latino Open House

The 4th Annual Latino Open House took place in the Golden Eagles room and was organized by NEIU's Latin poetry magazine "Que Ondee Sola," and the Union of Puerto Rican Students (UPRS) in collaboration with major student organizations of NEIU. Organizations such as Alpha Psi Lambda, R.H.O., Delta Tau Lambda, NEIU Proyecto Pa'Lante, McNair Scholars Program and L.I.Ps (Latinas in Power) participated and had their tables set up at the event. 

"It is through the art of poetry that human beings are able to define, understand and possibly seek to transform the insane world in which we, the individuals, are defined by," says Xavier 'Xavi' Luis Burgos, the Editor-In-Chief and Creative Director of Que Ondee Sola, while talking about the magazine. "Now you have this small collection of poetry from the poets of the Puerto Rican community and the Latina/o experience in Chicago," writes Xavi in his editorial. "Look closely at these artists' words and one will find multiple efforts to explain and understand our marginal social positions, love for our faraway homelands, struggles to maintain our committees, and attempts to validate our history of resistance as a people. In the end poetry goes beyond individual experiences." 

"It's a good opportunity for the freshmen to attend and get to know the community organizations of the campus and get involved," said Jessie Fuentes, President of UPRS. "Very important issues are raised to make freshmen aware of them and join the community organizations in bringing those issues to the administration." 

"We felt that the need [for] better ways of connecting new students to the communities, and make them comfortable by giving them a feeling of being around the people from the same community, so that they won't feel alienated, which made us organize an open house, says Fuentes. 

Fuentes later performed a song entitled, "Why Don't I Cry Blood." The hip - hop duo "Righteous and Oso" performed "Addiction", "Rise High", and "Don't You Wish." Despite a few technical difficulties with the sound, they managed to perform exceptionally well. 

It would be really good if more organizations participated and had their tables set up. Events like this should be organized and attended by everyone within NEIU's diverse community as a show of support and solidarity that our university tries to strive for.