By Giselle Lee | Staff Writer
The Barfield Drawing Room bustled with students Wednesday and Thursday as people gathered to connect through culture at LatinX Night and Asian Mosaic Night. This marked the conclusion of the Mosaic Week hosted by the Department of Multicultural Affairs.
Both events exposed students to the multicultural student organizations on campus and allowed them to immerse themselves in an environment that promoted diverse cultural awareness.
Houston senior Andrea Reyes, president of the Latinx Association for Science and Health (LASH), said her organization has been a place of belonging for her since coming to Baylor.
“I was looking for a place where I felt that both my major and my culture was honored,” Reyes said. “As a psychology major, being part of LASH celebrated both my culture and science.”
Reyes, a first-generation student, praised LatinX Night for helping new students feel confident in their cultural identity, and hoped it would provide resources she didn’t get to enjoy as a freshman.
“All the Latinx organizations sometimes will do lots of collaborations, especially within our social events or our workshops together, so having the opportunity to do so I think is amazing,” Reyes said. “I’m looking forward for students to find a place for a community where they can be in.”
Taipei, Taiwan, senior Joseph Huang, president of the Taiwanese American Student Association, said he founded the organization with a friend after seeing a lack of representation for Taiwanese and Asian American students on campus.
“I believe in strength in numbers, and you can definitely feel something when there are so many Asians together,” Huang said.
Huang said Asian Mosaic Night was meaningful to him because it celebrated Asian culture for current and new students.
“It was great seeing so many new faces here; everyone’s happy to be here and are very welcoming,” Huang said. “I’m looking forward to being able to grow with new members and go through college together.”
Romina Vidal Martinez, assistant director of multicultural engagement in Baylor’s Department of Multicultural Affairs, said in a statement that it is rewarding to see students’ “sense of relief and excitement” when they find a community at Baylor, especially incoming freshmen.
“Starting college can feel overwhelming, especially when students are still trying to figure out where they fit,” Vidal Martinez said. “These events give them an early opportunity to meet other students, learn about organizations, connect with campus resources and begin forming relationships. Even one meaningful connection can make Baylor feel smaller, more welcoming and more like home.”
She also said Mosaic Week is intended to be “welcome to everyone” and urged students to feel proud of who they are while also being curious about and appreciative of cultures that may be different from their own.
“Students do not have to identify with a particular culture to attend, participate, learn and build relationships,” Vidal Martinez said. “My hope is that Mosaic Week encourages students to move beyond simply recognizing differences and begin forming genuine connections across them. Celebrating culture should help us see one another more fully and strengthen our overall campus community.”
In addition, Vidal Martinez said the various nights of cultural celebration are more than a series of events; they are also an “invitation” into a process of belonging throughout the academic year.
“We hope students leave with more than a fun memory,” Vidal Martinez said. “We want them to leave knowing someone’s name, discovering an organization they may want to join, or feeling more confident that there is a place for them here. We want students to know that the Department of Multicultural Affairs is here to support them, celebrate them and help them find meaningful ways to connect and grow.”
