Stony Brook Opens Hispanic Heritage Month with Both Celebration and Reflection

The sound of drums and brass cut through the crisp October air as the Spirit of Stony Brook marching band, led by mascot Wolfie, paraded across the Student Activities Center plaza. Around them, the flags of more than a dozen Hispanic nations framed the square in a circle of color, a reminder that Hispanic Heritage Month is as much about plurality as it is about unity.

It was a festival, but also something much larger. When Deputy Majority Leader and New York State Assemblyman Philip Ramos took the stage, his keynote address altered the atmosphere of the day, setting it against the backdrop of history, struggle, and pride.

"Are we proud? Are we proud?" Ramos called out, raising his voice over the crowd. "We are born in a proud heritage. And in times like these, when learning institutions are under attack, when diversity itself is under attack, it is more important than ever that we wear our heritage like a badge of honor."

The first Latino in history to serve as Deputy Speaker in New York, Ramos spoke about growing up in Brentwood, serving as one of only 21 Latino officers in the Suffolk County Police Department, and later challenging that very department in court for discrimination. "A slave with a book was more dangerous than a slave with a gun," he reminded students. "When you are educated, you are no longer asking the government for help; you are the one making decisions."

For Ramos, visibility and authenticity were of utmost importance. His message resonated with many in the crowd, particularly students balancing pride in their family histories with anxieties about the national climate.

That theme carried through in the reflections of Judy Jaquez, associate director of Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement, and one of the lead coordinators of Hispanic Heritage Month. "We're in a very lucky place that we can be out and about celebrating at a time when, in our country, people of many ethnic backgrounds are nervous and afraid to even publicly identify as who they are," she said after the event. "Here, we can make all this noise, wave our flags, and speak in Spanish."

Jaquez explained that the celebration, now in its 36th year, often acts as a doorway for students still navigating their identities. "It opens the door for faculty, staff, and students who are very connected to their heritage. It gives permission for them to feel safe being open about who they are," she said.

She recalled her own student years as a time of rediscovery and hopes current Seawolves find the same. "When I connect with another faculty member, staff member, or student who shares a similar heritage, it feels like an unspoken bond," she said. "That's what I want students to feel too."

Funding, however, remains a challenge. The month's events are organized by volunteers across campus, not by a formal office. Jaquez hopes future support can expand scholarships, Latino research opportunities, and cultural studies programs.

Alumni involvement already demonstrates the far-reaching impact of the celebration - just this week, an alumnus of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers offered to sponsor current students to attend the group's annual dinner. "It shows the legacy of 36 years of this celebration," Jaquez said. Rather than just planning events, they aim to make connections across generations.

As Ramos closed with a challenge to be "bold, unapologetic, and proud," the plaza filled once again with music. Faculty, administrators, and students drifted back to the dance floor.

The celebration marked continuity but also underscored how heritage can be both joyful and serious, festive and affirming. DJ T kept the energy high, student clubs and organizations staffed tables, and food trucks handed out plantains and tamales.

For Ramos, Jaquez, and the students gathered on the plaza, the afternoon offered both pride in tradition and a reminder of the strength that comes from community.

Hispanic Heritage Month will continue through October, inviting the Stony Brook community to celebrate cultural diversity.

Hispanic Heritage Month Eventsat Stony Brook University include:

• Movie Night & Papel: Thursday, October 2, 8 pm
• Latinos Business Association: General Body Meetings
• Student Resource Information: Tuesday, October 7, 7 pm
• Deadline for Awards and Scholarships: Sunday, October 12 at 12 am
• Latin Lounge: Thursday, October 16, 7 pm
• A Selenabration of Hispanic Heritage Month! Selena Movie & Craft Night: Saturday, October 18, 7 pm
• Yo Soy un Seawolf Homecoming Social: Saturday, October 25, 5:30 pm
• Dia de los Muertos Celebration!: Wednesday, October 29, 12:30 pm

- Lily Miller