Indiana Statesman For ISU students. About ISU students. By ISU students.
Volume 122, Issue 82
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Awards ISU PD officers recognized for year of service 2
Motherly Love Baltimore son learns mother knows best 8
Photos Students prepare for graduation 11
Earthquake
Training simulator comes to ISU 16
Softball
ISU takes on No. 19 SIU 18
Baseball
Sycamores complete season sweep of IU 22
Friday, May 1, 2015
indianastatesman.com
Students step up at Latin Dance Night
Marissa Schmitter Features Editor
Dede II was cleared of all tables and chairs to make room for dancing on Tuesday night. Latin music blared from the room and enticed students of all backgrounds to join to party and learn some Latin dance steps. While some were learning the steps, others were grabbing dance partners and adding their own twist to the original dances. The dances that were taught included the bachata, salsa and merengue, among others. Maria Verduzco, a junior art education major and president of the Hispanic Student Association, helped host the event. “It’s important to raise awareness of diversity in college. We’re giving students a chance to relieve stress and make new friends,” Verduzco said. Verduzco stood on stage and danced the steps to show students how it was done. She helped out students who struggled with the steps and encouraged those who were less confident to dance to strut their stuff. They changed up the pace by doing a variation of slow, fast, moderate and group numbers. A circle was formed at one point during the event just to get everyone involved and away from just his or her clique of friends. One of the students running the event encouraged students to shake their hips and feel the music. Even though some students were embarrassed and self-conscious about the dancing, the room was still full of laughter. As the night of dancing continued, students began to shed their jackets due to the heat of dancing the night away. Jasmine Dyson-Drake, a freshman social work major, attended the event to learn some new dances. “My friend invited me, but I also want-
Students embraced the Latin culture Tuesday night when Hispanic Student Association helped host a Latin dance night in Dede II (Photo by Gary Macadaeg).
ed to learn the Latin dances and everything. It was fun and inviting,” DysonDrake said. HSA, which consists of approximately 30 students at any given time, is hoping to do similar events next semester. Jennifer Martell, a junior elementary education and Spanish major, is the social media manager of HSA. “Hispanics are only three percent of the culture here, so it’s really cool that we can share our culture,” Martell said. Martell was also pleased with the event’s turnout. “Especially for being study week, the turnout was really good,” she said. At one point during the night, a “Lat-
in Soul Train” formed where pairs of students went between two lines of the other students attending the event. The students clapped and cheered the other students on. In order to get more students involved, they danced to the Macarena. Everyone instantly knew the moves or picked them up quickly and joined the crowd in the fun. A Spanish version of “Achy Breaky Heart” was also played to line dance to. Students who attended left with smiles on their flushed faces. They not only got a good workout, but they also learned more about one of the many cultures on ISU’s campus. Page designed by Hannah Boyd