TU’s La Tertulia tradition blends together language learning, cultural history, and community.
Every Monday at noon, the first floor of Oliphant Hall transforms into a lively hub of conversation, culture and community. The reason? La Tertulia. La Tertulia is a weekly Spanish-language gathering hosted by the University of Tulsa’s Spanish department that brings together students, faculty and food lovers alike in celebration of Spanish language and tradition. Held in the cozy study lounge on Oliphant’s first floor, La Tertulia offers students and faculty a relaxed, welcoming environment to practice their Spanish conversation skills outside the classroom. Attendees typically break into small groups to chat and build fluency in a more casual setting, but they also engage in full-group discussions, often guided by Spanish department faculty and student leaders. Among them is La Tertulia student-President, Alexia Glory, who helps coordinate the meetings and promotes engagement with other students. Although improving language fluency is the primary goal, it’s clear that La Tertulia offers much more than a typical academic setting. One beloved aspect that keeps attendees coming back each week is the rotating selection of dishes from across the Spanish-speaking world. This week’s offering, beef arepas, was a clear hit. In previous weeks, the group has also enjoyed empanadas, aiming to highlight the rich culinary diversity within different Hispanic cultures.
However, this weekly event is far more than just an academic organization, in fact, it is rooted in rich hispanic culture and history. The TU meetings were founded in 1996 by Professor Garmy, who named it after an iconic literary café in Cali, Colombia. This original Tertulia opened in 1956 in the San Antonio neighborhood during a time of political repression and became a safe space for intellectuals, artists, and political dissenters. Over time, it evolved into the city’s Museum of Modern Art and relocated to the banks of the Cali River in 1968. In 2016, the name was officially changed to “La Tertulia Museum,” honoring the site’s historical and cultural legacy.
The word tertulia itself translates to “the gathering” in English. The tradition dates back to 17th-century Spain, when artists, academics and writers met in private homes to share ideas, present their work and engage in intellectual debate. These gatherings later moved into cafés and salons, becoming more accessible and eventually challenging the dominance of formal academic institutions. During the colonial era, the tradition of tertulia spread throughout Latin America. Despite originating within colonial society, these gatherings quickly became strongholds of intellectual exchange and political resistance. Their informal and decentralized nature made them ideal settings for the dissemination of revolutionary ideas and organizing efforts. Some have even linked tertulias to pivotal political transformations, such as the May Revolution of 1810 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. These intellectual salons would have played a crucial role in shaping collective thought and fostering revolutionary momentum that ultimately led to the overthrow of Spanish rule and the establishment of Argentina’s first independent government, the Primera Junta.
What began as a literary movement in Europe has evolved into a weekly meeting that blends community, conversation, and culture right here at TU. From 17th-century salons to TU’s Oliphant study lounge, the spirit of La Tertulia lives on, not just as a space for language practice, but as a celebration of community, culture and the enduring power of conversation.
