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Student-led Latine Student Union Unites Hispanic Community and Beyond at SLU-Madrid

by Isaiah Voss

The Latine Student Union (LSU) at Saint Louis University-Madrid is working to make Latin American culture accessible to students of all backgrounds through food, film and community events.

The student-led club aims to foster cultural curiosity and belonging among the SLU-Madrid community, offering programs that highlight Latin American traditions while welcoming students with or without Hispanic heritage.

On Feb. 2, the LSU honored Día de la Candelaria, a Mexican tradition marking the end of the Christmas season 40 days after Dec. 25. The celebration is closely tied to Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, when families share a Rosca de Reyes cake; whoever finds the hidden figure in a slice of it traditionally hosts the Candelaria gathering. To mark the occasion, the club distributed tamales — a staple of many Mexican households — in the San Ignacio Hall dining hall.

Beyond holiday celebrations, the organization hosts movie screenings for the SLU-Madrid community to explore Latin American culture through film and regularly polls students in their group chat to choose restaurants to visit around Madrid.

Several people are gathered around a table with plates of food on them as they smile for the camera. There is artwork on the right wall and a painted mural on the left.

LSU members pose for a picture at a restaurant in Madrid. Submitted photo.

"I've found a lot of home and comfort in it," LSU communications officer Maddi Alegria said, adding that students can join "whether you're tied to your Latina roots or not at all."

The club also plans upcoming events, including a Feb. 24 viewing and discussion of Bad Bunny's halftime performance at the Super Bowl in the U.S., which has drawn widespread media attention. LSU will also collaborate with the Portuguese Club to celebrate Carnival on Feb. 27 in the San Ignacio Hall Student Lounge, featuring Brazilian treats such as brigadeiros and samba music.

Organizers say the group's mission centers on learning, cultural exchange and creating a welcoming space for the broader SLU-Madrid community.

"For me the LSU is a place of community for anyone looking for it, especially for many who are living away from home for the first time," said David Chavez, LSU president. "I think of it as a place to welcome everyone and celebrate both our differences and what brings us together."