The two clubs can’t wait to be able to collaborate again. LEYLA MERCADO/THE QUADRANGLE
Zeke Jazwinski, Staff Writer
Baruch College’s Asociacion Estudiantil Dominicana [ASEDOM] and Manhattan University’s Fuerza Latina partnered this month for bachata night to strengthen Latinx presence and culture across both campuses.
President of Fuerza Latina, Daniela Ramirez, a senior psychology major with a minor in general business and criminology, has been working to rebuild the club since taking over. She shared more about the purpose of this event, as well as what she hopes students took away from it.
“I hope they took away a sense of expanded community and cultural appreciation,” Ramirez wrote. “We want them to feel a stronger connection not just to their own campus organization, but to the wider network of Hispanic and non-Hispanic students across the city or Riverdale area.”
Abel Cartagena III, Fuerza Latina’s club senator and a mechanical engineering major, shared that the partnership between the two schools and clubs worked well because both groups approached it with the same spirit.
“The thing that made the partnership really work was the fact that both parties really wanted to learn and have fun,” Cartagena said.
Leaders decided to focus the event on bachata and típico, highlighting Dominican culture while offering something new for students. The night included instruction, partner dancing and socializing.
ASEDOM President Adrian Beckles, a senior majoring in business communications at Baruch, spoke to how events like these help preserve Hispanic culture and heritage.
“Events like these that showcase Hispanic heritage, and collaborations between Latino student organizations play a big role in preserving and celebrating Latino cultural traditions,” Beckles wrote to The Quadrangle. “Events like this tend to also protect cultural heritage, educate others, strengthen community, and celebrate the diversity and beauty of Latino traditions. They ensure that the culture stays vibrant, respected, and alive for future generations.”
Beckles further discussed how featuring bachata helped students better understand its cultural depth.
“Bachata is known as Dominican Republic national music and genre to carry deep emotional, cultural, and historical meaning in Dominican culture, and sharing it beyond the Dominican community is valuable for several important reasons,” Beckles wrote. “Sharing bachata helps others learn about Dominican history, values, emotions, and artistic expression. It breaks stereotypes and highlights the richness of Dominican culture.”
The room’s energy built as students became more comfortable, eventually forming a circle where participants took turns dancing and cheering each other on.
Cartagena went on to talk about the atmosphere that made the evening especially memorable.
“The energy was incredibly filled with laughter, excitement, and support,” Cartagena said.
Club members from both organizations hoped that the event strengthened bonds between campuses and encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones. Looking forward to continuing this momentum, the groups confirmed that more collaborations are already in the works.
“The success and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from this Bachata Night collaboration have shown us that there is a real desire for these joint cultural events,” Ramirez wrote. “We plan to keep the momentum going and are already discussing a potential future collaboration focusing on another aspect of Latino culture, possibly a discussion panel, cultural showcase or another dance style. This is just the beginning of a great partnership!”
Cartagena said the success of the collaboration showed how meaningful cultural programming can be for students.
“Events like this remind us how important it is to share our culture and build community wherever we can,” Cartagena said.
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