SGA Offers Community, Free Tacos on Tuesdays

Over 20 attendees sit at tables adorned with cloths in vibrant lime green, magenta and cyan. They receive candies to mark their Lotería cards. A Lotería card featuring a drawing of a bandolón, a guitar-like instrument from Mexico, is projected on the screen. Student Government Association Vice President Daniela Navarrette stands at a podium and announces “El Bandolón” and translates it into English. As the rounds of games continue, the attendees go from silence to shouting “Lotería!"

Attendees gather during the event

The October 4 activity was part of the SGA's Taco Tuesdays, a weekly event from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. The events are located in the Staff Cafeteria in the Science Building.

SGA president Dominika Panek stated, “Each week we have an engaging activity, a craft or game."

Recent Taco Tuesdays have celebrated Hispanic Heritage month. For example, the October 4 featured Lotería, a chance game like bingo, since “lotería is played in so many Hispanic cultures [and in] a lot of Latin countries,” Navarette said.

On September 27, attendees painted clay cups called cantaritos. “Attendees showed creativity painting their flags, identities, and Hello Kitty,” Navarrete added.

Setting up for the next Lotería game

At the events, SGA offers beef, chicken and vegetarian tacos with cilantro, onions and more. For drinks, they offer bottled water and soda, along with tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

SGA Senator Ronald Alvarado notes, “We decided to have food available for any student, so we encourage you to join us.”

All you can eat tacos

Owen Bender attends the event every week. He describes the event as “free range. We’re all playing this game; you can chat with people, you can eat food -- it’s different every week.”

SGA Secretary Yehuda Goldbloom says, “If you feel like there's nothing going on campus, there's a community here. Feel free to join us.”

Taco Tuesdays are currently planned for the rest of the semester.