What does Mexican Independence Day mean here at Fresno City College?

For many students, the celebration provides a chance to show pride in their cultural heritage especially this year as Mexico marks its bi-centennial of its independence from Spain.  The event on Sept. 16 featured a Mariachi band and a dance troupe.  Many FCC clubs sold food and drinks to the large crowd that gathered in the Free Speech area.

“This day [Mexican independence] is a very big part of Hispanic culture,” said Noemi Rangel, president of the Folklorico club at FCC. “It is special because everyone gets along as we celebrate our independence.”

Hispanics are by far the largest group of students on the FCC campus, according to information available on the State Center Community College District’s (SCCCD) institutional research site.  9,701 students or 40 percent of students identify themselves as Hispanics in the spring semester of 2010.

“It’s my race. I feel proud of it,” said Melina Rochin, Psychology major.

The College Activities office organized a club rush, and many different clubs took advantage of the opportunity to raise their profile.

“We support all races and cultural events on Campus,” Cleadus Shelton, president of the Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) said. “We like to participate in everything.” AGS club members sold soda, water and nachos from their booth in order to help raise money for other activities.  Shelton, said the event provides an opportunity to show support of others’ cultures.

Lance Truong, president of the Pre-Health Society, said the event was a way to reach out to the student body. Truong said, “It’s about the Americas coming into their own when they separated from Europe and gained their new identities. ” The club sold corn-on-the-cob and Horchota from their booth.

The CEO club sold carne asada and chicken tacos from their booth. “We’re young entrepreneurs getting experience,” said CEO Vice President Jamaal Harris. “This [the booth] is a step in that direction. We have a lot of Hispanics in our group, and we’re just giving back.”

Despite recent developments in Arizona, Rochin said the independence had to be celebrated.  She strongly stands against the immigration bill in Arizona but would not  allow her stance on the bill to hurt the fun of the day.

“We celebrate anyways,” Rochin said. “It’s not going to affect our cultural pride.”