Texas A&M International University offers various opportunities for studying abroad, from traveling to China, Japan, Europe, Africa, Mexico and South America, but events surrounding Venezuela have affected some international students and TAMIU students. Student Government Associations and International Students have come together to show support by creating an awareness campaign that took place in two different days with different activities on each day.
On Monday February 24th, TAMIU SGA and students gathered at TAMIU Student Center Rotunda to get face painted by the members of The Artisans Art Society and SIK ONE Artworks. The face painting was to represent the colors of the Venezuelan Flag and to help bring awareness to the issues surrounding Venezuela. SGA asked students to make posters with messages to show support to the families and students of Venezuela. Dimas Chacon, a TAMIU Student from Venezuela, sat down with The Artisans and got his cheek painted with the colors of the Venezuelan Flag. Other students showed support by getting a heart shape flag and one student, Carlos “Charlie” Romo, went all the way to paint his whole face with the flag colors..
“I am from Mexico and I care #prayforvenezuela” is one of the posters created for TAMIU SGA’s Venezuela Awareness Campaign. The posters were displayed in the Student Center Rotunda until the Peace Walk organized by SGA on Wednesday February 26th. Dimas Chacon was excited to see the students united in support. Chacon carried the Venezuelan Flag in front of the Peace Walk with his fellow students carrying posters in a path that led from The Student Center to The Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library and making their way towards Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center and back inside The Student Center. To the participants surprise Mayor Raul Salinas stopped by to say hello, the surprise and the excitement of the event gave students a much needed boost to carry on to that night’s event Candlelight Peace Vigil.
The night of February 26, was nothing short of emotional, students gathered between Pellegrino Hall and Conseco Hall to light up the night and hear students talk about what has happened to Venezuela. A prayer and a moment of silence was greatly appreciated by Dimas Chacon, who through out the events hosted by SGA was more than grateful to see the students unite for a cause, even if its not their country.
For more information contact Jackie Briseno SGA President at facebook.com/txamiu.sbp or visit hashtags#PrayforVenezuela, #TAMIUCares, and #studentsforstudentsinvenezuela
(For additional information contact Santos R. Polendo at santos_polendo@dusty.tamiu.edu)