“South of the Border” College Parties

 

Why are “South of the Border” parties becoming popular on college campuses?  This CNN report focuses on two “South of the Border” parties at Univeristy of Delaware and Santa Clara University(California).  This report mentions campus segregation between whites and Latinos as being one factor. For many of these partygoers who wore sombreros, Pedro t-shirts, and cholo gear, they probably got these stereotypical images from Hollywood movies and television shows. Or they could have stopped at the “South of the Border” amusement park in South Carolina. I wonder if these partygoers had a Latino or Latina friend or had taken a Latino Studies course they would have taught twice before “becoming Mexican for a Day.”

“South of the Border” Amusement Park

Has anybody visited Pedroland? Well if you happen to be in South Carolina and pass by the town of Dillon, you are in for a rude awakening. Or you can visit Pedroland online.  Every Latino and Latina stereotype you can think of is there for you to eat, consume and chew including the manana syndrome, sombreros galore, broken English and many more. You stay overnight at the “South of the Border” motel and probably get to meet real life Mexican housekeeper or janitor. Don’t forget to taste the authentic Mexican food at Sombrero Restaurant or Hot Tamale served by some spicy Latina waitresses. Before you leave you must play a round of miniature golf at Golf of Mexico. I wonder if this park is employs undocumented immigrants not only for the maintenance and service jobs but also to display their authentic “Mexicaness” to tourists. I also wonder if the presidential candidates visited Pedropark in search of the Latino vote during South Carolina’s primary.

Los Democratas Soccer Team

The Nevada Democratic Party figured out how best to capture the Latino vote–organize a soccer team. This blue-jerseyed team was named “Los Democratas” and joined the Las Vegas Valley amateur soccer league in August 2007 well before the January 19th caucus primary. Democratic Party bilingual staffers worked the sidelines at every game talking with fans, educating them about the cuacus process,  and registering them to vote. This was an innovative idea. But Democratic Party only registered around 100 new voters, since a majority of fans were permanent residents (40%) or undocumented immigrants (30%). Another factor was the team lost early in the November playoffs. According to the 2000 census Latinos comprised nearly 20% of Nevada’s population and by 2005 has reached almost 40%, so the Nevada Latino vote will certainly matter in the 2008 presidential election. Even though many will not have a say in the upcoming 2008 election the staffers educated many permanent residents on how to become citizens and how to participate in the political process.