UTEP celebrates Mexican independence with Grito

S. David Ramirez, Staff Reporter • September 13, 2013

Consul General of Mexico, celebrated the anniversary of Mexico declaring independence from Spain in the early 19th century.

UTEP hosted the annual Grito, a celebration of Mexican independence, on Friday at the Union Plaza.

The event, sponsored by the Consul General of Mexico, celebrated the anniversary of Mexico declaring independence from Spain in the early 19th century.

Mariachis entertained the crowd as they meandered through displays set up by organizations such as the Mexican American Engineers and Scientists and the international studies program.

Casandra Reyes, junior organizational and corporate communication major and SGA senator, introduced the dignitaries that spoke at the event including UTEP President Diana Natalicio, SGA Internal Vice-President Ruben Chavez and Mexican Consul General Jacob Prado.

“Viva Mexico y Go Miners,” Natalicio said.

Prado led the crowd in the traditional grito, or yell, proclaiming the name of revolutionaries instrumental in the Mexican liberation.

The Banda de Guerra y Escolta from the Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Juárez performed the Mexican national anthem while many students and staff performed the traditional Mexican civil salute.

S. David Ramirez may be reached at [email protected].

About the Contributor

S. David Ramirez, Staff Reporter

S. David Ramirez is currently an English and American Literature major wrapping up his final year at UTEP. He has written for the Lakefront, the Thing Itself literary magazine, the Tejano Tribune and The Prospector. When not striving for journalistic excellence, he helps organize fandom conventions around the Lone Star State, including El Paso Wintercon and San Japan, San Antonio’s largest Japanese culture and anime convention. He hopes to spend his academic career educating the public about the dangers of Jane Austen and the medicinal benefits of reading the Brontë sisters. His research in popular culture studies has taken him across the nation and he hopes to continue presenting findings on music, media and literature at future conferences. David says his success is due to a pact with the dread Lord Cthlulhu of R’ley fame, but he may just be reading too much H. P. Lovecraft in his off time. He is currently applying to graduate schools for communication rhetoric or writing and rhetoric. If you, or someone you know, is on these admissions boards, please contact him directly.