Letters to the editor

Posted on April 28, 2003, at 12:00 a.m.

* Picture didn’t portray truth

The Latin American Student Organization and I believe the photograph that The Maine Campus chose to display Fiesta Latina Night did not accurately represent our group.

Although the photograph used was indeed a great shot, we feel it would have been more appropriate to print one of the many other pictures the photographer took – like one of our members giving dance lessons to the group.

We know that this picture was picked to catch the readers’ attention, and it certainly caught ours. Unfortunately, we feel that the picture did not portray us in the best light, nor did it represent what the dance was all about.

The event centered around Latin dancing and we feel that a photo of people dancing the merengue, salsa, or bachata would have been more appropriate. A picture like the one chosen was not all that different than one that could have been taken any other night at Ushuaia. Our dance was far different from the average night at a local dance club, and we thought that the photograph chosen would have highlighted the differences, rather than lumping it into the same category.

Another reason we were not entirely pleased with the photo was because this type of publicity might send the wrong message to future attendees of our events. Our dances and events are often attended by local high school students and their teachers, and this photo, along with the title, insinuates that the event would be inappropriate for high school-aged kids.

People who have attended our events know that they are open to the general public and the university community. We appreciate that The Maine Campus attended our event, but in the future we’d prefer photos that highlight and celebrate the diversity in the groups on campus, rather than insinuating that a Latin fiesta is no different than another Saturday night at Ushuaia.

Kate Closson

President of the Latin American Student Organization

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