Students looking at their college options have different things in mind that play a role in their selection process. The preference of some is a college located in a big city; for others a small college town is better; others prefer tropical climates and some the Midwest.
Columbus, the capital of the state of Ohio, is appealing to a large number of students from all over the United States because it offers the benefits of a diversified economic base, entertainment, sports, cultural diversity and the friendliness of a Midwestern city.
There are a lot of things to be excited about in Columbus. This wonderful city has truly become my second home since I've lived here for half of my life. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, I moved here in 1992 and little did I know that I would discover more of my Latin@ heritage here than I ever expected.
Back in the early '90s...
In order to really appreciate the transformation that Columbus has experienced, it would be helpful to know just a little about what the city was like back in the early 1990s. For those of you who don't know me, I have been performing as a DJ and Latin events promoter since 1997. I was an OSU student who was influenced by the brothers and sisters of Alpha Psi Lambda to start my own version of entertainment.
As a native of Texas, I grew up seeing and living the Mexican culture. The music, food, and traditions were all a huge part of who I was. Prior to attending Ohio State and joining the fraternity, I had the chance to really explore Columbus and see what was out there. I was introduced to the entire spectrum of Latin@ cultures ranging from Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Honduran, Salvadoran, Spanish, and Nicaraguan cultures and customs. It was an exciting time for me.
For starters, nightlife was a joke. There was only one Latin night (notice that I said a Latin night). It was a Sunday night at a place called Spinners. The place was famous for its rotating dance floor. The crowd was a wide mix of Latin@s, Americans, and Europeans. It was definitely different from anything I had ever seen. There were two Latin@ grocery stores and maybe a dozen “Mexican-style" restaurants and no Latin@ publications in the entire Franklin County area. The Latin@ festival was just getting its start downtown, and it was the only city sponsored event held in mid–June.
How the times have changed...
Today there is so much more to appreciate in relation to the Hispanic/Latin@ presence. According to the last estimates by the Census Bureau, the Hispanic population in Franklin County, Ohio increased from 24,279 in 2000 to 45,428 in 2008. The city has hundreds of businesses that include: grocery, music, clothing, money exchanges, travel agencies, legal services, employment agencies, hair salons, cable TV networks, AM and FM radio stations, two television stations (one launched in early June), five weekly newspapers, three magazines, several large Mexican nightclubs, with at least half a dozen other Latin–themed nightclubs in very trendy parts of the city. If you enjoy sports, you've got one of the best college football teams in the country not to mention Columbus is the home of the Columbus Crew — 2008 MLS Champions. You also have pro hockey, minor league baseball, and pro arena football teams. If sports aren't your thing, then explore the world-class zoo, museums, water parks and shopping centers in just about every corner of the city.
Additionally, Columbus has become an important industry center. It houses the headquarters of companies such as Limited Brands, Nationwide and Wendy’s and other Fortune 500 companies. These companies target their recruiting efforts to Ohio State students which puts the young Buckeyes in the advantage when looking for an internship or full-time job.
As with any major city, you take the good with the bad but mainstream America has embraced the growing population and cultural influences we have long enjoyed. Latin dancing is hot! There are several places to learn and dance in the city throughout the week. There used to be only a couple of Hispanic student organizations on campus but now there are over a dozen with new ones forming every year. |
