On Nov. 7, several campus programs gathered together at the Multicultural Center to celebrate Dia de los Muertos or “The Day of the Dead,” taking time to honor those who have passed away and reflect on the brevity of life.

Mercedes Cunningham, Coordinator of Center for Black Culture and Student Success, CBCSS, was in attendance sharing and highlighting members of the black community that have either endured or fell victim to social injustice throughout the years.

From slaves and civil rights leaders to common people, the CBCSS brought a different perspective and message to the event that night. “We wanted to figure out how we can combine the African diaspora, the Black diaspora and showcase that at Dia de los Muertos,” Cunningham said.

When asked if any person on display resonated with her, Cunningham replied, “Sandra Bland who was killed by law enforcement at a traffic stop. It’s how it happened.” On July 10, 2015, Bland would die in police custody three days after a traffic stop that led to an altercation with a Texas State Trooper for failing to use her turn signal. Her death was ruled a suicide by hanging and has caused controversy on the issue of police custody, creating more problems on the issue of public trust.

Cunningham shared that she had a similar experience with law enforcement. “Though mine didn’t end tragically, it resonates with me because that could have been any one of us. So in the end we just want to highlight these folks on this altar and just make sure [they’re remembered].”

Next to the CBCSS, was the VRC or Veterans Resource Center altar, commemorating veterans that died while serving in the military.

Photos of former service personnel were submitted by VRC members who personally knew the deceased, such as Francisco Vega, a 29-year-old aerospace major and former Marine, who knows the price of freedom and what a leader in the military looks like.

Vega submitted Master Sergeant Jonathan Dunbar, who he had met in Syria in 2018. Though their time was short together, roughly about two weeks, Dunbar’s character and influence remains with Vega to this day. “In those two weeks he mentored me and my Marines and it was really life changing,” Vega said. Dunbar would soon leave Vega’s Marines and be sent out to combat in which he would later die two weeks after they met. “He made a really big impact on me and my Marines,” Vega added.

Vega joined the Marine Corps when he was 17 right after high school, turning 18 after graduating from boot camp and stayed in for nine years. When asked what his message would be to Mt. SAC Vega replied, “To never forget your loved ones and the people you care about. Just never forget them and always honor them,” he added.

Though the majority of altars being presented were from campus programs, Spanish Professor Lizbeth Sanchez and her students contributed their own perspective on the holiday. One altar is dedicated to the migrant children who had died while trying to reach the U.S. The other is highlighting iconic Latinos and Latinas that have made great contributions to their community from athletes, to celebrities, artists and public servants.

When asked if any stood out to her, Sanchez replied, “Gloria Anzaldua, [who] presents to us “mestiza” consciousness and “Nepantla,” which is the “space between here and there” and I think that’s represented of Latino and Latina immigrants [being] divided by a border whether it be geographical or psychological.”

Anzaldua, was a Chicana lesbian, feminist, writer and activist, whose work broke barriers in identity roles mainly in Mexican stereotypes. To Sanchez, Anzaldua offers an opportunity to build a bridge between the two spaces producing a sense of “por aquí” allowing them to build their own world in between the “here and there.”

As the night’s festivities continued, another group showcasing their altar was the Bridge Program. Representing them was Amabel Perez, who showed onlookers those important to them that have passed away.

The Bridge Program not only gave their staff an opportunity to array their loved ones, but also had former students and professors who had departed on display. One professor was Manuael Castillejos, who passed away last year. According to Perez, Castillejos taught at Mt. SAC for 35 years, primarily teaching world languages, and was instrumental in having events on campus pertaining to Latino culture. His memory and legacy lives in the hearts of those he faithfully served and mentored.

Death is a heavy subject to face and discuss for many adults. Yet, Mt. SAC’s Child Development Center offered a chance for parents to slowly introduce the reality of loss to children while exposing elements of Mexican culture that may not be celebrated in the home.

Lupe Medina, representing the Child Development Center said that death is a complicated and complex concept for children to understand and wanted to find ways to communicate something we all have to face one day.

The altar was a collaboration between staff, students, faculty and families who used pictures and other assortments to convey the message of death in a warmer way. Photos of pets could be seen, inviting children to grasp in a small measure the reality of death. “Children often lose pets at an early age and I think it’s an easier way for them to understand that when something or someone dies, it’s gone,” Medina said.

However, unlike the children present, Medina wasn’t exposed to this element of culture and celebration. “I am Mexican-American and I didn’t grow up celebrating Día de los Muertos. Last year [though], my father passed away and I really took this opportunity to learn more about Dia de los Muertos [which] gave me an opportunity to honor him,”Medina said.

Though it was a day or remembrance, community was another factor involved for Medina. “Knowing what that loss has been for me, helped me understand and connect with others that may have experienced a similar situation, [so] the purpose in this is to learn about each other and continue to develop that empathy and relationships we have with one another,” she added.

For Medina though, the most important thing that could have happened that night was to show adults what children understand about death and when to introduce that to them.

School programs and curriculum may not cover such material at an early age, but the Child Development Center wanted to work with parents to find creative ways to experience culture when it presents valuable lessons. Allowing families to decide what extent their children participate, Medina knew that this was an opportunity to both introduce and preserve Mexican culture. The center primarily serves Hispanic and Latino families and getting them familiar with their roots and heritage is part of self-discovery which, to Medina, starts early.

Amongst the crowd gathered that night were families, young children and the Mt. SAC community.

However, in the midst of face painting, crafts and food being served, were two young dual-enrollment students from Gary High School. Jose Morales and Issac Rosas are both 17 years old and explained that high school doesn’t put on events pertaining to culture to the extent that a college might.

When both were asked if there were any differences in experiencing celebrations or important dates, Morales explained that his high school rarely has any functions or events for important dates concerning culture but at Mt. SAC it was a different experience. For Rosas, he can agree with Morales’ sentiment. “I feel it gives students a great opportunity to indulge in different cultures. It’s not just about the cultures, but there are also a lot of events that [cover] particular majors.”

But for events concerning culture and people, Rosas said, “I don’t really have access to something like this, so it’s great to see the community Mt. SAC has an amazing environment they are able to provide us.

Rising Scholars and ACCESS also had altars to display but personnel were not in attendance and those covering their station briefly commented highlighting the meaning of the event.

From ACCESS, Cynthia Rodriguez and Steven Rodriguez told SAC Media that the event was about remembering loved ones and always having them with us and reconnecting with our family roots. From Rising Scholars Janet Cisneros, a peer-mentor for the program had members of her family displayed including her mom, stepdad, brother and nephew.