UNC Charlotte’s Latin American Student Organization (LASO) hosted LASO Palooza for their first event of the semester on Aug. 26 at the Star Quad.
The atmosphere at the Star Quad was vibrant with Latin American music blasting and dozens of students sitting on the steps, waiting for the event to begin.
Fourth-year student and co-President Alan Flores Luna is eager to start the year with LASO, meet new members, reconnect with returning ones, help members connect and attend new events.
“I’m excited for everybody that’s new to campus to meet other Latin American people on campus, connect with them, communicate, and make some friends out of this. My first LASO event was this general body meeting a few years ago, and I can say I met my long-time friends for the rest of my life here, and I want to give that same experience to everybody else here on campus,” Luna said.
Second-year student and co-President of LASO, Kayla Lee Ortiz, emphasizes the slogan of LASO and expresses how this event is centered around that slogan.
“We know that being a first-generation, especially, it’s really hard coming away from home. We try to provide a home away from home and allow people to meet new people, and hopefully in the end they become friends,” Ortiz said.
The event began with free Celsius and popsicles being distributed to everyone in attendance, followed by an introduction of each executive board member. Afterwards, they started an icebreaker game where everyone walked around Star Quad and formed groups based on a number that was announced. Once in those groups, they all got to know each other by answering a few questions.
Creating bonds
Ortiz explains why these icebreaker games are essential in helping to create a stronger, tight-knit community within LASO.
“We understand that college can be very stressful, especially the first week when you are trying to get to know everybody, find your people, and we really hope that this event really brings people together and just have a good time while they could be struggling being away from home or during their first week of college classes,” Ortiz said.
Next, everyone played a traditional game called Payaso De Rodeo, where executive board members called out items to be brought to them, and whoever brought them the item first received a prize. Prizes from this game ranged from candy, board games, candles, speakers and backpacks. The event ended with traditional Latin American dancing to loud and upbeat music.
Luna states that this event, along with all of LASO’s other events, aims to incorporate as much Latin American culture as possible to enhance members’ social, cultural, and educational experiences while at UNC Charlotte.
Fourth-year student and public relations chair for LASO, Aaliyah Rosales, shares why she loves LASO and the sense of siblinghood it brings to Latin American students on campus.
“LASO means a lot to me, but more specifically because it is a way to socialize with other people and build that bridge between community and culture. Campus life can get lonely, so I love that LASO ensures a home away from home environment,” Rosales said.
