{"id":1088,"date":"2022-04-20T14:56:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T14:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=1088"},"modified":"2022-04-20T14:56:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T14:56:47","slug":"bgsu-latino-student-union-celebrates-50-years-of-fostering-belonging-for-students-co-plans-function-march-23-at-student-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2022\/04\/20\/bgsu-latino-student-union-celebrates-50-years-of-fostering-belonging-for-students-co-plans-function-march-23-at-student-union\/","title":{"rendered":"BGSU Latino Student Union celebrates 50 years of fostering belonging for students; co-plans function March 23 at student union"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Zeltzin Contreras-G\u00f3mez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bowling Green State University<\/em>\u00a0is home to nearly\u00a0350\u00a0registered\u00a0student organizations, one of which is the\u00a0Latino Student Union (LSU)<\/em>. This year, the Latinx culture-focused group is celebrating 50 years of fostering a sense of belonging for students from all backgrounds.<\/p>\n

BGSU senior\u00a0Zeltzin Contreras-G\u00f3mez<\/em>\u00a0said the welcoming aspect of Latino Student Union immediately drew her in when she attended her first meeting during her sophomore year.<\/p>\n

“The group just welcomes you with open arms and includes everybody from all backgrounds,” Contreras-G\u00f3mez said. “It feels like a family, and I truly felt at home right from the start.”<\/p>\n

The daughter of Mexican and Puerto Rican parents, Contreras-G\u00f3mez, who now serves as president of\u00a0LSU,\u00a0is just one of many Latin students who’ve found a sense of belonging through the group, which is celebrating 50 years at BGSU.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1972, BGSU Latino Student Union works to educate and inform the public about Latinx culture and issues while serving the campus community as a whole. The organization also provides a space where people from all backgrounds can feel safe to learn and grow as students.<\/p>\n

“Latino Student Union really strives to create a feeling of belonging for everyone,” Contreras-G\u00f3mez said. “We bring a big family aspect to campus and aim to be a home away from home for people who join the group.”<\/p>\n

An Illinois native and first-generation college student, Contreras-G\u00f3mez knows what it’s like to feel disconnected from family and culture while away at school. In her role as president, she makes an effort to help members get the support they need.<\/p>\n

“Everyone in Latino Student Union is so supportive,” Contreras-G\u00f3mez said. “From family matters to homework, no matter what you’re dealing with someone is there to help or can relate to what you’re going through. I’ve even sought guidance from fellow members. It’s really a blessing.”<\/p>\n

Outside of serving as a support system for Latino students, Latino Student Union also embraces the BGSU mission to create public good. The organization coordinates an annual blood drive and helps plan the University’s\u00a0Latino\/a\/x Issues Conference<\/a>, scheduled for March 23, 2022 at the student union.<\/em><\/p>\n

After a half-century of supporting students and creating positive change in the campus community, Contreras-G\u00f3mez hopes to see the Latino Student Union grow and continue to highlight the contributions of those in the Latino culture for years to come.<\/p>\n

“It has been such an honor to be a part of and to lead this group during this chapter of its history,” Contreras-G\u00f3mez said. “I’ve learned so much about myself and others, including their cultures, and I really hope the mission of embracing Latino culture and that the tight-knit family feeling continues for many years to come.”<\/p>\n

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Bowling Green State University\u00a0is home to nearly\u00a0350\u00a0registered\u00a0student organizations, one of which is the\u00a0Latino Student Union (LSU). This year, the Latinx culture-focused group is celebrating 50 years of fostering a sense of belonging for students from all backgrounds. BGSU senior\u00a0Zeltzin Contreras-G\u00f3mez\u00a0said the welcoming aspect of Latino Student Union immediately drew her in when she attended her<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1089,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[53],"class_list":["post-1088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ohio"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t