Sigma Lambda Beta held its annual Latino Month Madness Comedy Jam on Friday in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium. The Comedy Jam was part of the Latin Heritage Month Celebration.

Javier Arellano, a member of Sigma Lambda Beta, said the event is a way NIU students can learn more about Latino culture.

“This is a way students can see that Latino students are like everyone else,” he said, “and to see the kind of jokes we make at ourselves.”

Rudy Gonzalez, social chair for Sigma Lambda Beta, said he hoped this event would serve as a way to bring students of all ethnicities together. He also said the event was a way to bring Latinos together.

“This event was a way to show that although there are many different Latino ethnicities,” Gonzalez said, “all Latinos are pretty much the same.”

Christine Valenca, a freshman business administration major, said she came to the event not just to see the performers.

“I came to support the Latin Community,” Valenca said.

The comedy show started with Miss Latina NIU, Janet Rodriguez, and Oliver Gonzalez, first runner-up for Mr. Papi Chulo. They spoke about the importance of Latino heritage and recognized all the Greek organizations in attendance.

There were four comedians at the event: Bill Cruz, Patti Vasquez, Eddie Cruz and main performer Alex Ortiz. Bill Cruz openly admitted that he was gay and joked about the hardships of being gay and Mexican.

“It’s tough being gay,” Bill Cruz joked. “You have to memorize Cher songs.”

Patti Vasquez received nearly non-stop laughter from the audience. She poked fun at her Mexican and Irish heritages. She also took time to recognize breast cancer awareness during her routine.

“Breast cancer is a serious matter,” Vasquez said.

Alex Ortiz, the headlining performer, reflected on his life growing up in Humboldt Park. Ortiz said he has performed on BET’s comic view, “Showtime at the Apollo,” and currently is working on a movie with Comedy Central.

Rudy Gonzalez said the show ran very smoothly and Sigma Lambda Beta was very pleased with the turnout.