Spanish program aims to promote cultural awareness
By John Dunphy, Managing Editor
They’re bringing listeners la mejor música hispana every Monday afternoon.
Rider University students Valerie Cedeno and Vicky Vera launched “La Melodia Latina,” (“The Latin Melody”) a one-hour program on Rider’s station, WRRC 107.7 FM, on Nov. 12.
The program, airing from 3 to 4 p.m. Mondays, is the brainchild of Hernan Fontanet, assistant professor of Spanish language and literature at Rider. The show is aimed not only at the Hispanic community at the university and its surrounding environs, but to anyone who wants to listen and learn, said Ms. Cedeno, 21, a senior journalism major from Elizabeth.
”There’s not too many Spanish people on campus, but we wanted to spread a little Latin culture to people, to Hispanic people as well as those who don’t know much about it,” she said.
Ms. Vera, 18, a freshman chemistry major from West New York, said the show, which plays a variety of Spanish-language music in addition to offering discussions on topics relevant to Hispanic culture, wants to “knock down a majority of the stereotypes out there about Hispanic people.”
”We’re not going to submit to what other people think of us,” she said. “We’re a very unique culture. We’re very open and we want other people to know that. Just because we have a different skin color, culture or speak a different language doesn’t mean we’re not open to learning new things.”
Dr. Fontanet, who joined the Rider faculty this year, previously hosted “En Voz Alta,” (“In A Loud Voice”) for two years at the North Carolina National Public Radio affiliate WFSS, in Fayetteville, while a professor at North Carolina State. He has also previously taught at Yale University as well as Spain and in Argentina, where he was born. The Lawrence resident moved to the United States in 2002.
”We are working on two new majors (at Rider),” said Dr. Fontanet, 41. “One is ‘Latino American Studies,’ the other is ‘Spanish and the Media.’ We want to train students to be ready to work in Spanish media TV, radio and newspapers, and also public relations.”
Dr. Fontanet said “La Melodia Latina” serves as a bridge between the two new courses. “We want to make Latino culture attractive,” he said.
Both student hosts have had the opportunity to visit their ancestral countries — Ecuador for Ms. Vera and Colombia for Ms. Cedeno, who is half-Colombian and half-Mexican — an experience they both said brings a greater perspective to themselves, their cultures and their radio show.
”I definitely noticed people are very open there (Colombia),” Ms. Cedeno said. “They are welcoming, especially during Christmas. Everyone knows everyone on the block. It’s just a really nice environment.”
”Not many people can say they’ve been to a Latin country, experiencing it firsthand. You can bring something back,” she added.
Ms. Vera, who visited Ecuador when she was 8, said she has noticed how people from there seem to assimilate into American culture when they come here. “When I went there, it was different. I saw how people from their native country live. It’s very different.”
While the show’s music is in Spanish, the two hosts speak in English. “We’re trying to get it out there and see where it goes from here,” Ms. Vera said. “If we only spoke in Spanish, that would only attract less listeners. We definitely would like to get a message across.”
So far, reception to the show has been positive, Dr. Fontanet said. “We’ve had a lot of e-mails and comments from people on campus, also in Princeton and elsewhere in Mercer County.”
Future projects at Rider may include a Spanish newspaper as well as another radio show, this time focusing more on Hispanic culture.
For now, everyone involved in “La Melodia Latina” just wants to get their music, and their message, to as many people as possible.
”This is the first step, and it’s a good first step,” Dr. Fontanet said.