CULTURES AT ASU
By: Margaret Naczek, Ricardo Avila, & Gabby Revilla
There is a reason why speaking Spanish in Arizona might feel like a necessary tool. The historical and cultural ties with the U.S.’ southern neighbors are important, but aren’t a recent trend.
It was the 1840s, and the United States had just won the Mexican-American War. The infamous peace treaty had Mexico give the U.S. ownership of California, Texas, and parts of what are now New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona.
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There are approximately seven million people in the state of Arizona, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Out of the nearly seven million Grand Canyon State inhabitants, 2.1 million are Hispanic or Latino. The Hispanic or Latino population is prevalent at the almost 77,000-thousand strong Arizona State University, with the most recent data indicating 13,892 students of that origin attend ASU. This means Hispanic or Latino students make up approximately 18% of the population of the university. Here is how some of them maintain their Hispanic or Latino culture: