ORONO – In 2002, Latin and Hispanic Americans became the largest minority in the United States, composing 13.5 percent of the national population.

Maine’s Latin American population is comparatively tiny, with only 0.7 percent of the population reporting to be of Latin heritage.

For Kate Closson and members of the Latin American Student Organization at the University of Maine, that statistic does not reflect the reality here in Maine.

“Despite the size, the Latin American population in Maine is very close-knit and brings its culture with them wherever they may be,” Closson, LASO president, said Tuesday. “The Latin community in northern and eastern Maine is thriving.”

LASO is devoted to bringing together Latin American students at UM and to celebrating the diverse array of cultures within the Greater Latino culture. Members also strive to reach out to the Latin American community outside UM and to educate non-Latino students and community members about their culture.

The term Latin American refers to all people who have heritages based in Central and South American nations. Hispanic refers specifically to people of Mexican, Cuban or Puerto Rican descent.

LASO’s core membership is approximately 15 to 20 people, though many more students, faculty, staff and community members from all different heritages attend LASO events, Ana-Ramona Gilbert, LASO secretary, said Tuesday.

“Many of our members are not of Latin heritage,” Gilbert said. “We want everyone to be involved, from Latin Americans to non-Latinos interested in the culture or the language.”

LASO holds two major events each school year – the Latino Heritage Celebration Week in the fall and Fiesta Latina in the spring. The Latino Heritage Celebration Week is the larger of the two events and is in its eighth year this year.

This year’s celebration, held from Monday, Oct. 25, through Friday, Oct. 29, will feature dance lessons, panel discussions, a guest speaker and a full dinner featuring Latin food, live music and dancing. The group hopes to bring up a meringue-salsa band from Boston for the dinner.

“At our events, we see many different people,” Closson said. “Latino migrant workers from Down East have come to our dances, as well as other Latin Americans from all over the area.”

UM’s efforts to increase diversity at the school are reflected in LASO’s activities, along with other university groups such as the Asian Student Association and the Black Student Union.

Multiculturalism has been a topic of debate recently among UM students, with some students questioning the reasons for the Office of Admissions to actively seek students of diverse ethnic backgrounds to attend UM and the efforts made to teach nonminority students about other cultures.

For Closson, this criticism is welcome, but misses the point.

“LASO is here to provide a positive environment for all students from all backgrounds,” she said. “We think a crucial part of being an educated person is to learn about and celebrate other cultures, and we are here to help people do just that.”

For more information on LASO, call 581-2009.