Stephanie Harrington - Former Staff Writer

A Night in Mexico

HALO hosts a fiesta

Night in Mexico
Performers demonstrate Mexican culture at last year’s “A Night in Mexico” event.
Night in Mexico
Performers demonstrate Mexican culture at “A Night in Mexico” March 2012.

Idaho State University’s Hispanic Awareness Leadership Organization (HALO) will be holding its annual “A Night in Mexico” cultural event Saturday, Feb. 23. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Ballroom.
Ticket pricing for the event is $7 for ISU students with a Bengal ID, $8 for faculty and staff and $9 for the public. Tickets are sold in the Pond Student Union Building and Rendezvous Complex from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Tickets purchased at the door will cost an additional $1.
HALO’s goal as a club is to encourage higher education within the Hispanic community and perpetuate Hispanic culture.
“One main goal is to share our culture with our guests,” said Maria Luna, HALO club president. “We would like everyone to have a great time, and enjoy the food.”
Food will include carnitas, tamales, rice, beans, other entrees and dessert.
“All our food will be authentic Mexican food,” said Luna. “We also have the support from El Herradero who will be donating the salsa.”
The night is themed around the Mexican Revolutionary War.
“As a club we had a lot of good ideas. We ended up voting for the Revolutionary War because it’s part of our culture and we wanted to learn more about it,” said Luna.
The Mexican Revolution of 1910 started as a rebellion to challenge the regime of dictator Porfirio Díaz, who had been in power since 1877. Díaz’s term of 34 years violated the principles of the Mexican Constitution.
“It’s important to [Hispanic culture] because it was the time that we took down the government who had dictatorship for over 30 years,” said Luna. “We wanted to share it with our guests as well.”
A Night in Mexico entertainment includes a machete dance, singing, a raffle and a Grito competition that the attendees can participate in. “Grito” is a celebratory cry related to the Mexican Revolution. The winner of the completion will receive a prize.
“We like it because it gets people really pumped up at the event,” said Luna.
For more information on the event contact Luna at ude.usinull@iramanul.