The brothers of Phi Iota Alpha made sure everyone inside Ernie Davis Dining Center felt the zest of the Latino culture. The instantly recognizable beats of reggaeton emanated from the building, beckoning passers-by to enter through the doorway, appropriately emblazoned with a poster reading ‘Hola.’

On the lower level of the dining hall, boldly placed in front of the wall of windows, Phi Iota brothers danced, masterfully displaying the hip-swaying mandatory for the genre, and at times pulled unsuspecting diners to join them. Those who felt confident enough to step up to the dance floor to join were welcomed with cheers of encouragement, a testament to an atmosphere akin to that of an intimate family gathering. The music acted as the backbone to the night, a constant metronome that unceasingly propelled the tempo forward and kept the mood light, yet enticing. One of the diners observing the festivities was Brittney Rutigliano, a sophomore selective studies major whose family hails from Puerto Rico. She gave Phi Iota Alpha’s efforts her seal of approval.

‘I feel like I’m back at home, my mom always plays this kind of music,’ she said.   

Throughout the past week, Syracuse University was exposed to the snappy sights and sounds of South and Central Americas as Phi Ota Alpha, a Latino-based fraternity on campus, organized six culturally inspired dinners. The events were held in all dining halls, complete with festive music and decorations. Brockway, Graham, Shaw, Sadler and Ernie Davis dining centers collaborated with Phi Iota Alpha to present these fall fiestas on Sept.13, 14, 15, 21 and 22,respectively, with the addition of one in Goldstein Auditorium on Sept. 20.

The dinners were dubbed Sazón Phi Iota, a play off of SazónGoya, a blend of seasoning that claims to hold the secrets of creating authentic Latino cuisine. They aimed to put the spotlight on Latino culture during Latino Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15. 

Jairo Sanchez-Chavez, a junior computer engineering major and member of the fraternity, said the event originated as a dance workshop circa 1996 when a brother wanted to expand the Hispanic culture at Syracuse University, and it continued to blossom, becoming an annual fixture at SU.

‘In the past, the brothers cooked all of the food,’ Sanchez-Chavez said. ‘But the dining halls eventually offered to help because the events were gaining so much popularity.’

Phi Iota Alpha may not prepare the food, but it still plays a pivotal role in the planning. Members of the fraternity, and notably the executive board on which Sanchez-Chavez serves as secretary, booked the dining halls, provided the music and sound equipment, and brought the flags of various Hispanic countries that served as a fitting back drop.

Sanchez-Chavez and his brothers in Phi Iota Alpha, whose mission is the empowerment of the Latino community through intensive social and cultural programs, sought to offer a taste of a different culture in an entertaining environment.

‘Our goal for these dinners was to introduce a new culture that not many people are exposed to so that they can be a part of it and enjoy it,’ he said. ‘We want to give them another reason to appreciate diversity and, of course, we want them to dance and have a good time.’

Students piled their plates with items from an expansive spread of Hispanic and Latino dishes, a zesty divulge from the predictable dining hall menu. Each buffet station sizzled with a distinct selection of the mouth-watering staples of the culture, including paella, tacos, chicken, beef and vegetarian fajitas, Mexican rice, Latino chicken and plantains.  

The aspirations of Phi Iota Alpha to emphasize diversity complement the overarching aim of SU to do the same. Courses ranging from Jewish to Middle Eastern studies are readily available to students, and according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment,minorities represent 23 percent of the student population and 124 countries are represented on campus, making SU a cornucopia of culture.

‘I felt like I grew up in a bubble,’ Rutigliano said. ‘It’s great to see so much diversity and be educated with so many cultures at SU.’

The Latino Nights certainly bring cultural differences to the forefront, and although Sanchez-Chavez and his brothers in Phi Iota Alpha are eager to promote them and unite the Latino population on campus, their intentions are not solely limited to achieving these Pan-American ideals.

‘The reason we do events like this is that they bring people together,’ Sanchez-Chavez said. ‘We may have different roots, but in reality, we’re all not that different.’

admuller@syr.edu

Published on September 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm