BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 On Thursday morning, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the CSUB\u2019s new Latinx cultural center \u2014 La Casita \u2014 on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a center like this opens so much opportunity for students,\u201d said student Rigoberto Onofre Gutierrez. \u201cThey\u2019re able to connect with some people in a certain way, whether it\u2019s culture, food, music. There\u2019s so much this space can bring to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
About 70% of CSUB students are Latino, making the university a Hispanic-Serving Institution. That designation allows the school to apply for federal grants aimed at supporting student success.<\/p>\n
The president of the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) said the designation should carry real meaning. \u201cBeing Hispanic-serving has to mean more than a designation on paper,\u201d the ASI president said. \u201cIt has to mean that Latinx students walk into this campus and feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students told 23ABC that despite making up most of the student body, the lack of a physical gathering space made it difficult to come together and celebrate their heritage. They said La Casita will make finding community easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a meeting ground, it\u2019s a space to hang out, and it\u2019s also another resource,\u201d Gutierrez said.<\/p>\n
La Casita features a lounge, art from across Latin America, study rooms and a play room for kids whose parents attend CSUB.<\/p>\n
Dwayne Cantrell, vice president for student affairs, said the space is meant for everyone on campus. \u201cThis is a place where every student can see themselves, can find themselves, can connect with others and learn from one another,\u201d Cantrell said.<\/p>\n
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