Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
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Enjoying Cinco de Mayo festivities, from left, are Oscar Martin, Arthur Nakahara, DDS and Karen Maalona. |
UCSF's Latin American Campus Association (LACA) co-sponsored a Cinco de Mayo fiesta at the Mission Bay campus on Monday, drawing nearly 300 students, postdocs, faculty and staff to the festivities. The event, supported by the Chancellor's Cultural Enrichment Fund, featured live music by the group Mariachi Tradicion Mexicana and free traditional Mexican food served by LACA members. LACA is a registered campus organization that serves as an organized voice of the Latino community of UCSF and promotes programs of interest to the Latino campus community. The Chancellor's Cultural Enrichment Fund finances multicultural activities across campus locations to improve the quality of campus life, provide for a supportive work environment and nurture diversity - all efforts called for in the UCSF Strategic Plan. Those attending Monday's Cinco de May celebration experienced ideal weather conditions, relaxing under sunny skies amid the park-like surroundings of the Koret Quad. The Genentech Hall amphitheater became the perfect arena for the mariachi band. Musicians worked the stage as they played their instruments and danced to the rhythms of traditional Mexican songs. Robert Smith, a staff member at UCSF Mission Bay, was among those to come out of his office to enjoy the afternoon. "Very nice event!," he said before thanking LACA members for organizing the midday party. This was LACA's second Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Mission Bay. LACA members aim to cultivate a new tradition at the young campus and envision that many more fun events like this one will help build community at Mission Bay. Giselle F. Martin is the co-chair of the Latin American Campus Association and a program analyst at the UCSF Center for Bioentrepreneurship. Related Links: Latin American Campus Association