From October 11th through November 3rd, the Latino Medical Students Association (LMSA), the Office of Student Affairs, and Marketing & Communications set up an altar for Día de los Muertos – a Latin American tradition to honor loved ones that have passed. This tradition can include setting up an ofrenda, which is an altar that includes pictures of loved ones, items that belonged to them or signify them, and small snacks that were enjoyed by them. This altar was located in HSEB on the 5th floor next to the elevators and honored the UA COM-P’s loved ones lost throughout the years and any individual that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to get absorbed within our to-do lists and forget to take a moment, breathe, and contemplate. In addition to starting a diverse tradition at the UA COM-P, we believe we have also allowed an opportunity for anyone passing by the 5th floor to take a moment to stop and reflect at the altar – even if it was for a brief moment while they waited for the elevator. We hope to uphold this tradition for years to come and to continue honoring the UA COM-P’s loved ones in this cultural manner.
*Pictured above: From top left to right, group picture of LMSA students and Ryan Loebe from Marketing, photo of the altar. Bottom, another group picture of LMSA students with Dr. Correa, the club sponsor.
Gillian Reynoso is a member of the class of 2025 at UACOMP and a student leader for the Latino Medical Students Association.