Latin American Club
Mission Statement
Shawn Nannan, a member of the Latin American Club (LAC) believes that their mission statement is "very much on par with its purpose, goals and objectives". He goes on further to say that he believes that club "does exactly what the mission statement has claimed". This club's mission is as follows: The purpose and the goal of the Latin American Club on Dickinson College is to first, promote awareness of Latin American and Latino culture and teach others about its variety of traditions. Second, the Latin American Club serves as a support system for Latino students and foreign exchange students from Latin America. Third, the club cooperates with and supports other cultural organizations on campus in respect to their goals and events. Next, the club gets involved in the local Hispanic communities. Finally, the club networks with other Latin American and Latino oriented organizations at other institutions of higher learning, as well as high schools. To read more about this club, including thier mission statement, go to their home page
Events
The LAC executes several cultural events on campus each semester in order to promote cultural understanding, and also to educate the Dickinson community about Latin American traditions. In many cases, the LAC works in unison with other cultural organizations on campus for larger events and performances. According to Shawn Nannan, the group's most notable events are the Capoeira performance that took place in Britton Plaza and their "Flavors of the Caribbean Dinner" dinner. The Capoeira is a form of dance and martial art that came to Brazil with the slave trade in the mid-1500s. At faster tempos it functions like a sport, and at slower tempos, it resembles a dance. This ambiguity made it possible for slaves to practice under the watchful eyes of their owners. Events such as these give those who attend a glimpse into Latin American Culture. And, as most clubs probably recognize, ethnic cuisine is always an effective way of introducing people to new cultures. The "Flavors of the Caribbean" dinner was done in collaboration with the African American Club and featured a whole day of African Carribbean music, poetry, and dance. The dinner, of course, featured traditional cuisine. The group's social action came into play when both students and community members performed a skit that dealt with issues of race, diversity, and empowerment called "In Mere Thoughts".
Effectiveness
We asked members to rank their group's percieved effectivness on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being very effective and 1 being not effective. Although Shawn Nannan did not say what he thought the LAC's actual effectiveness was on campus, he did say that the club "deserves a 5 for its effort".
Problems/Dilemmas
As with many of the groups involved in this study, the LAC's biggest problem is funding. It is standard that most clubs' budget proposals are cut in half by student senate, but this can prove to be a major road block when planning events is concerned.
