¡Bienvenidos!

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Presi Statement on HACER Name Change

This statement aims to clarify our constructive motivations behind the decision to change HACER’s name. 

The discussion to change HACER’s name originated in May 2022 during the transition of our executive board, prompted by concerns among Rice’s Latine community that HACER had a predominantly Mexican focus. Since HACER aims to celebrate the diverse Latin American cultures represented at Rice, extending beyond Mexican heritage, the 2022-23 e-board defined a clear initiative to broaden HACER’s cultural inclusivity.

As part of this initiative, the e-board recognized that the term “Hispanic” could be exclusionary, as it historically refers to individuals from countries that gained independence from Spanish colonization and speak Spanish. We recognize that there is no catch-all label, and terminology has historically evolved in the US: Chicano to __-American, Hispanic to Latino, Latinx to Latine, reflecting an acknowledgement and attempt for greater inclusivity and recognizing marginalized populations under Hispanic colonialism, which include indigenous, Afro-descendant, non-Spanish-speaking, multiracial, and gender nonbinary individuals. HACER, part of a world-renowned institution like Rice,  must seek to align with global efforts towards greater inclusivity.

Understanding the challenge of encapsulating the diversity of Latin America in a single word, we welcome and encourage name suggestions that may not include any categorizing terms. For instance, USC’s Latinx center is named “La Casa”; casa means home/house in Spanish and Portuguese.

To highlight this challenge across the U.S., Rice’s own ISLA (Initiative for the Study of LatinX America) uses the term Latinx instead of Hispanic, and other institutions like Stanford have engaged in discussions about the nomenclature of Chicano/Mexican-American/Latino Centers, showcasing a broader trend towards inclusive language.

As highlighted in the Thresher article “HACER turns to members to rebrand with name change,” we, as co-presidents, emphasize that the decision to change HACER’s name is not one we want the e-board to make unilaterally. The name change form, released at the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, is part of our initiative to gather input from our leadership, membership, and the Rice community. We invite anyone to suggest a name change, and the deadline for submissions is Friday, December 8, 2023, at 11:59 pm. Please refer to the link in our Instagram bio (@ricehacer) to access the form. In the 2024 spring semester, top name suggestions will be compiled into a voting form, allowing HACER members to choose a new name that better aligns with our collective goal of expanded inclusion. 

We welcome and encourage constructive feedback on this name change initiative. You can share your thoughts by either submitting them directly on the name change form or by emailing the 2023-24 HACER co-presidents, Melissa Cantú Elizondo (mcantu@rice.edu) or Valeria Aguirre (va27@rice.edu).

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Established in 1972, the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice (HACER) is one of the most visible organizations for Latines on campus. We offer many opportunities for all members of the Rice community to enjoy such as cultural, educational, political, service, outreach, and social activities.

HACER is the verb “to do” in Spanish, and that is exactly what we are known for. HACER strives to be an inclusive space for people of Latine descent and for people who want to learn about the beautiful intricacies of Latin American culture, connect with others of Latine descent, and help move the Latine community forward.

Throughout the year, we host a variety of events in an effort to share elements of our culture with the Rice community, support the greater Latine community beyond the hedges, further conversations on issues that uniquely affect Latine students and Latine-Americans, and create a cohesive HACER family. We look forward to getting to know you and we hope you join us as we endeavor to make this year one of the most active yet!

What We Do

  • Community Service
  • Study Breaks
  • Fall Cultural Show (¡Ritmo!)
  • Social Outings: Pub Night, Salsa Nights, Restaurants
  • And Much More!

Upcoming Events

Stay up to date on HACER’s current events with our calendar, and check out more on our lnk.bio!