The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers began an official Baylor chapter in May and is now working to create a community for Hispanic engineers at Baylor.

“The hope was to bring people together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but also for students to know that the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association is here to support them as they are navigating their way through college,” Diaz-Espinoza said.

In 1894, when a young Baylor student was sexually assaulted in the university president’s backyard, she was referred to as “that Brazilian girl.” Today, the name Antônia Teixeira is a symbol of resilience in the face of the institutional oppression which Baylor played a regrettable role in, according to a lecture in the Baylor Libraries Author Series.

“Baylor is such a large part of the city of Waco,” Hoffman said. “I think it’s important as Baylor students, but also just as well-informed and decent people, to broaden your perspective a bit and stretch outside of the ‘Baylor bubble’ whenever possible.”

“How can I understand where they’re coming from, and that it’s not good or bad, it’s just that we’re created differently?” Weber said.