Performers at the Jaripeo night celebration hosted by LASO and LUL.
The Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. (LUL) hosted their second annual Jaripeo Night on March 28 at the Hauser Alumni Pavilion.
Jaripeo Night drew a large crowd, bringing together students from diverse backgrounds to celebrate Mexican and Latin American culture through music, dance and community.
LASO held its first meeting in 2015 and has been growing ever since. This year’s Jaripeo Night drew around 50 attendees, reinforcing LASO’s mission of creating a home away from home and uniting students through a vibrant celebration of Latin culture at UNC Charlotte.
Students dressed in traditional Jaripeo attire, including boots and tejanas (Mexican cowboy hats), as attendees danced to live norteño music from La Nueva Elegancia, a band from Siler City, N.C.
Jaripeo Night allowed students to embrace and express their cultural identity.
Whether they had grown up with these traditions or were experiencing them for the first time, the event promoted an atmosphere of connection and belonging. For many attendees, it was a chance to reconnect with their heritage while sharing it with others on campus.
Attendees like Mitzy Vasquez, a first-year student, shared why she attended the event.
“I think that it’s really important to have inclusivity and diversity and to be able to just mix cultures with other people,” said Vasquez. “I think it’s really good, especially for people who aren’t Hispanic, to be able to see the culture.”
Karlie Robertson, a first-year elementary education major, also enjoyed the event, saying it reminded her of her hometown.
For Robertson, the night brought a sense of nostalgia as she grew up surrounded by similar cultural festivities. Seeing students come together in celebration made her feel more at home at UNC Charlotte, even though she hadn’t expected to find such an event on campus.
“I didn’t think we’d have events like this in Charlotte,” said Robertson. “But LASO’s events have been great, and I’ve met a lot of people.”
The event not only gave students the opportunity to dance and enjoy live music but also served as a social gathering where new friendships were formed.
Many attendees met others who shared their backgrounds and experiences, strengthening the sense of community among Hispanic and Latino students on campus.
Robertson highlighted the importance of these events for Hispanic students and those outside the community, helping create connections and build a supportive environment.
“They are important just to show other people the culture and make people in this community feel welcome and at home,” said Robertson.
LASO’s leadership helped organize the event. Ivana Rivadeneira and Aaliyah Rosales, co-presidents of LASO, shared the inspiration behind the event.
The planning process involved coordinating with La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., securing a band and ensuring the event captured the authenticity of a true Jaripeo celebration. LASO’s leaders and members’ effort reflected their dedication to encouraging cultural appreciation and representation at UNC Charlotte.
“There was such a great turnout last year that we decided to do it again, but with some improvements. It’s about celebrating our culture and bringing everyone together for a fun night,” said Rivadeneira.
Both Rivadeneira and Rosales expressed their hope that events like Jaripeo Night help build long-lasting friendships and a sense of community.
Beyond just a single night of celebration, the two see LASO as a space where students can continuously engage with their culture, meet like-minded people, and feel supported throughout their college journey, and events like Jaripeo Night play a key role in building that environment.
“Most of our members are first-year students, so we definitely want to bring a taste of home to the UNC Charlotte campus, making sure that they have that aspect of their culture represented on this campus,” said Rivadeneira. “We have a lot of people who meet and become best friends from our events, so that’s really nice to see and to see those friendships flourish.”
As LASO and LUL continue to host events celebrating Latin American culture, they hope to see even more students get involved. Steve Torrejon, president of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. and former LASO president, expressed his excitement for future events.
Torrejon emphasized that the success of events like Jaripeo Night motivates them to keep expanding their outreach. He hopes that with more participation, LASO and LUL can continue to grow their influence on campus, ensuring that Latin American culture remains a visible and celebrated part of student life.
“A big part of what we’ve always done is trying to top what we did before, with the purpose of uplifting our community. We want to create an environment where students feel comfortable and welcomed,” said Torrejon.
