Just over halfway through Hispanic Heritage Month, Bradley students have done everything they can to make the time special.
Spanning from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month encompasses a large portion of the independence days of multiple Latin American countries.
The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) raised the flags of several nations on Sept. 19 in the Circle of Pride. Meanwhile, education majors held events at dual language academies here in Peoria.
But nowadays, recognition isn’t enough.
There has been an uptick in the number of hostilities targeting the Hispanic and Latino communities in America.
Nothing illustrated this better than the reaction to the announcement that Bad Bunny would be the musical guest for Super Bowl LX.
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people in this country illegally,” Senior Trump Advisor Corey Lewandowski said. “Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you. We will apprehend you.”
Given the administration’s penchant for disregarding due process, this is a chilling statement regarding what should be a monumental victory for the Hispanic community.
This attitude has no place at Bradley. The university’s students have done an excellent job recognizing and elevating Hispanic voices when they need it most. It’s time for the university to do the same.
Bradley’s Hispanic student population is disproportionately low compared to the populations of Illinois and the United States. Investing in prospective Hispanic students would be a good place to start if the university wants to raise its disappointingly low enrollment numbers.
As a private university, Bradley has a unique ability to protect its students from the government interference that public universities face today.
Now more than ever, it’s time to put that ability to good use.