Despite the challenges presented by COVID during the fall 2021 semester, students and student organizations were able to organize and host the 28th annual Unity Dinner. Unity Dinner is an event to celebrate unity. From student performances, keynote speakers and dinner, students come together as a community to share space and time with one another. This event considered a Cornell tradition, the first unity dinner was hosted by the Latina/o Studies Program in 1992. This year’s event was different because of added restrictions due to COVID and a much smaller time frame for planning. Requiring months of planning, this year’s it was organized in less than 2 months. Lead organizer, Dariana Argueta-Zamora (CALS ‘22), reached out to Iván Solís Cruz, the LLC’s RHD about the Unity Dinner and the possibility of organizing it for the Fall. Although it seemed difficult at first, students worked together to make it happen, and the rest is history.
This year’s theme, “Unidos Hacemos la Diferencia,” with Unity Dinner itself being the epitome of unity as a driving force to making things possible. The night was full of student performances by Teszia Belly Dance Troupe, Cornell E. Motion, African Dance Repertoire, Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble, Caribbean Students’ Association Dance Ensemble, Amara Valerio ‘24, and Abigail Pio ‘22. The keynote speaker was Cornell alumnus Héctor Vélez, Ph.D. '83 and professor of Sociology and Latina/o Studies, and co-founder of the Latina/o Studies Program. Professor Vélez is well-known and respected in the community and was critical in the establishment of the Latinx community at Cornell. As he noted in his speech, he is history in more ways than one. Professor Vélez also highlighted the importance of solidarity and making space for other Latinx students and individuals: “So, in the same way, as you finish your academic career and obligations, you can become a light for others to follow. I send you out as fireflies. You can become the inspiration for other family members and friends and friends of friends to be proud of their heritage and to move ever onward in our quest for peace, brotherhood and sisterhood and love for all because we all share this earth and it belongs to all of us.”
This event was organized and made possible with support from LSP, LLC, ALANA, Contigo Perú, Asociación de Centroamericanos Unidos, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, Puerto Rican Student Association, La Asociación Latina, Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán ATZLAN, Ecuadorian Students' Association, Cuban American Student Association, Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble, Quisqueya: Dominican Students' Association, and the Mexican Student Association.
Unity Dinner was held on December 4, 2021 in Biotech G10. Photos from the event can be found on LSP’s facebook page.
