Latinx Thematic Learning Community commemorates legacy of late IU Professor Luis Davila

Though the Luis Davila Latinx Thematic Learning Community, located in Teter Residence Center, opened at the beginning of the fall semester, there’s no better time than the present to celebrate its existence. From 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 3, the community—better known to its residents as “the Davila floor”—will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the late IU Bloomington professor’s two daughters in attendance, allowing students to reflect on the significance of living in a Latino-related community at IU.

“It actually works out perfectly, because students have lived there for a semester, understand what it means to live in the community, and when they come here, the students can articulate that to the daughters of Davila,” explained Lillian Casillas-Origel, advisor to the community and director of the La Casa Latino Cultural Center, an Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs (OVPDEMA) program.

“Especially because they’re mostly freshmen, if we would have done it the first week or second week after the students moved in, they would have been in a haze and not realized the significance it has--not everybody there is Latino, but to have a predominantly Latino group—to live with folks that understand your background on a campus that is predominantly white.”

“This is a watershed moment for the Latino community, because it’s an acknowledgement of the growing presence of the Latino population and culture on the campus,” said IU Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs and IU Bloomington Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion John Nieto-Phillips, who will be in attendance at the celebration.

“It’s an acknowledgement that we have a history here that we’re finally able to reflect upon, and that the university values and appreciates it. It goes back to Professor Davila bringing visibility to diverse Latino populations.”

Davila’s lasting impression on IU Bloomington made him an easy choice when deciding what to name the community.

“He made sense because he was a long-standing faculty member here and someone who was very active—everything from being an advisor to some of the activism. He played a critical role in supporting the Latino identity on campus, even back when there was almost nothing, so, I think it was very natural,” said Casillas-Origel.

“For the students, we’ve had discussions about not only about the importance of Davila’s role on campus, but also what it means to have a floor on campus—and not just a floor, but piece of property—with a Latino name. When we’ve had these discussions, it’s that whole idea of a great triangle on campus.

“First, there’s La Casa, which is the student support aspect and education through programming. Then, you have the development of Latino Studies, so folks can delve a little deeper into aspects of Latino culture. Now, you have the floor, the residential component,” she went on to say. “So, all three of them can be a nice package, or just one. Someone could be just interested in having that community connection in their space, somebody else could want it through academics, and another person might want it through their social interaction—educational, but not in an academic setting.”

The students living in the community have already had ample opportunity to participate in unique programming through living on the floor, including monthly events with faculty, alumni, and various services. For example, alumni such as Patricia Mota, president of the Chicago-based Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement and IU Bloomington’s Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speaker, WTIU producer David Gonzalez, and Josefa Luce, who works for the City of Bloomington’s Latino Outreach department, have all spent time with the students.