October 18, 2016
By Melissa Rohman
This October, Dominican has been celebrating the Hispanic culture, food and tradition through a multitude of activities, events and masses on campus. As always, the Rebecca Crown Library kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month 2016 by draping the flags of all Spanish-speaking countries on the spiral staircase. Numerous lectures and panels have also been taking place on campus in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, with Dominican hosting guest speakers such as Dr. Reynaldo Jiménez Guethón from the University of Havana in Cuba and Pulitzer Prize finalist, poet and author Luis Alberto Urrea.
Dominican also held its 12 annual Hispanic Heritage Reception and Bilingual Hispanic Heritage Mass to bring together Dominican students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The Social Hall was illuminated at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 with over 120 students, faculty, staff and alumni joined together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with complimentary food, music and the presentation of the Hispanic Heritage Alumnae/i Award to Evelyn “Gigi” Benitez ’00. Benitez graduated from Dominican with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology. Since 2006, Benitez has been the Youth Services Coordinator for the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services. The program also included words spoken from President Donna Carroll and co-president of the Organization of Latin American Students (OLA), Anissa Vega.
That same weekend, the Rosary Chapel was filled on the evening of Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. for the Bilingual Hispanic Heritage Mass. Scriptures and prayers for the mass were recited in both Spanish in English along with dancing from Dominican students in traditional dress overflowing with color and beauty. A festive social followed the mass in the Noonan Reading Room where attendees of the mass were able to enjoy food and socialize.
rohmmeli@my.dom.edu