Latino student center opens on campus

LaCasa Latina will provide social programming forPenn's Latino population. Dreary and wet weather couldn't dampen the excitement and celebration surrounding Westminster House yesterday afternoon for the grand opening of La Casa Latina, the University's new Center for Hispanic Excellence. The primary goal of La Casa Latina -- located at 37th and Chestnut streets -- is to encourage the recruitment, retention and academic success of Latino students at Penn. "I believe La Casa Latina will richly enhance the quality of life for Latino undergraduate, graduate and professional students on the Penn campus," Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said in her opening remarks. La Casa Latina will offer mentoring, leadership opportunities and academic, cultural and social support. It will also function in collaboration with the Penn Latino Alumni Society and the Latino Community-At-Large. After administrators officially opened the center, student leaders pointed out the vast potential for interaction among the Latino community. In his remarks, College senior Jonathan Canto, president of El Movimiento Estudiantil Cicano de Aztl