Selenis Leyva, best known for role on "Orange is the New Black," visited William Paterson University in New Jersey for the opening of William Paterson University’s 2018 LatinX Heritage Celebration.
Her talk was entitled, “Untold Stories: A New Beginning in Promoting Intercultural Competence, Social Change, and Inclusion.” Leyva, a proud Afro-Latina of Cuban and Dominican descent, inspired students with her never-give-up spirit and message of empowerment. With the midterm elections just days away, Leyva stressed the importance of getting out to vote, telling Hispanic Outlook, “We’re all part of the system. We’re born into it and we are part of it. So, it becomes a matter of having a say in what happens. If you don’t like the way your neighborhood is run, if you don’t like the parks where you live, the library, the services, then you have to find out who is at the core of that. Then you can judge if this person is doing a good job of representing you. If this person is not, you have to vote for someone who will. I think there is no ‘not wanting to be part of the system’ anymore.”
When asked by HO if she was optimistic about the political process working, Leyva admitted she was hopeful but wary. “I feel there is a movement with many more people wanting to get involved and educate themselves -- especially young people. But I am terrified because I believe there has been tampering in our election and because with the midterm elections we are already seeing tampering. But having said that, it should not discourage anyone from voting on November 6. At the end of the day I want to believe that if someone is behaving badly and sticking their hand in the cookie jar eventually they will get caught. So, in the end, I remain hopeful.”
Dr. Richard Helldobler, the university’s new president was on hand to welcome Leyva and open a month-long Hispanic Heritage celebration which will include a Flamenco performance featuring Ensemble Español, the 8th Annual State Hispanic Leadership Conference, “Know Your Rights” A Discussion On Preparedness, Immigration And Deportation, LatinX Iron Chef Competition Honoring The Day Of The Dead as well as “Stories Of The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria In Puerto Rico” Featuring WP students and faculty who joined the aid efforts. A complete list of activities and dates can be found at https://www.wpunj.edu/campus-activities/
Helldobler also took the occasion to announce the launching of a new multi-cultural center on campus as early as next fall, which he says will serve WP’s “proud and rich heritage of diversity.” He further explained that. “William Paterson has a long tradition of educating 1st generation college students.” William Paterson University was designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in fall 2014 when their total Hispanic student enrollment surpassed 25 percent. As of fall 2018, our Hispanic enrollment has increased to more than 30 percent.
Photo Credit: Tim Miller
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