Multicultural Affairs

So many miles away from their traditional Cuban roots, I wanted to know about the different outlets that Cuban-American students have to celebrate their culture on and around campus while studying at the University of Florida. I was pleasantly surprised to find the wide array of organizations that cater to the Hispanic-Latino community at UF. Not being involved in any of these organizations myself, I was impressed by the number of students who did find time to take such pride in their heritage. The Dean of Students Office website offers tons of information about these groups, making it a perfect site to begin my research on the “Cuban Invasion” in Gainesville. Via the link labeled Multicultural Affairs, I discovered that UF is home to over 40 Hispanic-Latino organizations! After feeling guilty that I could only name two of them (CASA and Sabor Latino- two organizations that a few of my close friends were involved with), I set my sights on educating myself about the opportunities the university has to offer regarding Hispanic-Latino affairs. I immediately wondered… How many of those clubs are specifically geared towards Cuban-American students? How many Cuban students actually participate in the activities the organizations have to offer? I hope to find answers to these questions and more throughout the semester as I chronicle the Cuban Invasion…Gainesville Style!