Students, staff celebrate Texas Independence Day

The celebration, Texas Independence Day Multicultural Celebration, was hosted by ACC's Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS) in conjunction with the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS), and the history department.

The event featured guest speakers who discussed Texas' Independence, musical performes and catering from Casa Chapala and Salt Lick.

History Professor Larry Willoughby spoke about the Texas Revolution, and afterwards, government Professor Lisa Perez-Nichols spoke about the Texas Declaration of Independence.

"I think its great that we can come together as a group about our Texas Independence and celebrate our accomplishments," Perez-Nichols said in her speech.

Creator and organizer of the event, CSPS member Jason Haydon, stressed the issue of our history.

"Texas is really the only state that at one time was its own country, and Texas has a huge ego because we are definitely proud to be a Texan," Haydon said.

Former Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, discussed about the unity between cultures and looking at how far Hispanics and Tejanos have come as a nation.

"I was elected to be the first Tejano elected to the Texas senate and house by a majority Anglo community and in El Paso, a majority Tejano community voted in an Anglo," Barrientos said as he fired up up the crowd. "Now that is America, that is Texas! That's what we should think about, because we have come a long way as Texans."

Student Jason Hall enjoyed the knowledge that he gained at the event.

"I did not realize how diverse Texas already was back then. I have learned so much," said Hall.

After the speeches concluded, students participated in a constitution-building activity to give them the opportunity to understand what it is to be involved in the creation of a democratic country like our fellow Texans have accomplished.

Students split into different groups and were asked how would they run their branch of government, and were later asked to speak in front of peers on the decisions made.

William Peck Young, the director of CPPPS, is happy students had the chance to participate, and understand the importance of our history, and writing our own constitution.