2024年6月17日

By Haley Dittbrenner ’25

Shannel Jimenez ’27When Shannel Jimenez ’27 visited Susquehanna University as a high school student, it happened to be the day the Department of Languages, Literatures & 文化 hosted its annual event, A Walk Down 语言上.

The event invites the campus community to share thoughts, original poetry, 一个故事, 一个报价, a simple translation — anything — written in chalk on Kurtz Lane in any language other than English.

“This event made such an impression on me because as a first-generation American student who comes from the Dominican Republic, it was nice to see a space dedicated to inclusion,” Jimenez said. “In other words, it made me feel like I belonged.”

Fast forward one year 和 Jimenez, now a student in Associate Professor of Spanish Studies 格雷格Severyn’s Spanish 302 course, organized the event as a first-year student at Susquehanna. She put her own spin on the event by including music.

Jimenez hopes that her involvement with 语言上 will help other incoming students feel welcome.

“What struck me about the event when I visited last year was the sheer number of different languages that were written on Kurtz Lane, which to me meant a wide diaspora of cultures 和 different demographics,” Jimenez said. “I hope others take away from this event that there is diversity at SU.”

In the future, Jimenez, a double major in 历史 和 哲学 with a minor in 社会学, intends to assist with other language-centric events.