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Campus celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month by Cindy Abole Public Relations A festive crowd gathered Sept. 30 to recognize MUSC’s celebration of culture, tradition and camaraderie honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month. Participants kick up their heels in the Sept. 30 celebration. About 50 students, staff and members of the community joined in the campus’ second annual event. The event grew out of a collaboration with Hispanic/Latino faculty, students, staff and community representatives.  Participants dined on ethnic fare catered by Rio Grande Restaurant and desserts from Allan Barboza. Health Professions student Cristina Reyes and Victor Cerron led a demonstration of salsa dancing with music by Luigi Bravo and company.  “While we recognize that such a gathering could only touch the surface of the many facets of the rich heritage of Hispanic/Latino culture, by all indications, the participants enjoyed the event,” said Sabra Slaughter, Ph.D., interim director, Office of Diversity. Slaughter also praised the support from event participants Michael deArellano, Ph.D., Natalia Corica, M.D., Reyes, Cerron, Michelle Escobar and International Programs director Susan Brooks. DeArellano, an assistant professor in the Institute of Psychiatry, shared some insight on the Tri-county’s growing Hispanic/Latino presence and the need for area communities to begin recognizing Hispanic/Latino issues.  He challenged participants to step forward and get involved in these issues  within education, the workplace and community. In addition, deArellano affirmed the need for more volunteers in student-faculty mentoring programs and other support activities to help others. “It’s not enough that all of us  are interested in just Latino issues,” he cautioned. “We need to increase our involvement in programs to make a real difference.” “We anticipate that the Office of Diversity and entire campus community will benefit from an increased awareness and appreciation of the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.”   Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.