|
| 9-13-00 Contacts: Ed Munoz, Sociology and Latino/a Studies, (515) 294-8281 or (515) 294-1724 Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720 ISU OBSERVES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University will observe Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, with a series of lectures, films and special events. Hispanic Heritage Month encompasses several historical events: Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, Sept. 15; Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16; and El Dia de la Raza, Oct. 12, a day that commemorates Latino indigenous heritage. The U.S. Congress established Hispanic Heritage Week more than two decades ago. The celebration grew and was expanded to a month in 1989. The intent of Hispanic Heritage Week was to encourage Hispanic awareness among all the U.S. citizens, said Ed Munoz, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee chair and assistant professor of sociology and U.S. Latino/a Studies. Hispanic Heritage Month's opening ceremony will be Friday, Sept. 15, at noon at the Border Crossing statue near MacKay Hall on central campus. Speakers will be Laura Castro de Cortes, co-founder of the Des Moines Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and president of Nosotros Hispanic Marketing Inc.; Carla Espinoza, assistant vice president for human resources; Noemy Rodriguez, an ISU sophomore and president of the Mexican American Young Achievers Society; Amanda Morales, an ISU junior and recipient of the Latino/a Studies Program scholarship. Jerry Garcia, U.S. Latino/a Studies Program director and assistant professor of history. A full schedule of Hispanic Heritage Month at ISU events are planned at ISU (listed below). Film "A Hora da Estrela" will be presented by the Casa Hispanica Learning Community and Spanish Club. Sept. 19, 6:15 p.m. 309 Pearson Hall Speaker Daniel Chacon, writer and professor of creative writing at the University of Texas-El Paso. Chacon is the author of " Chicano Chicanery." He will talk about fiction writing and the role of Chicano writers in contemporary literature. Sept. 20, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. 212 Ross Hall Reading Chacon will present a reading and discussion of "Chicano Chicanery." Sept. 21, 8 p.m. Sun Room, Memorial Union Performance Fantasia Juvenil, a Puerto Rican dance troop from Chicago, will perform. The troop includes 25 dancers ranging from 7 to 18 years of age. The troop coordinates different styles of dances and wears costumes of various Hispanic countries. Sept. 22, 8 p.m. Sun Room, Memorial Union Film "La Guagua Aerea" will be presented by Casa Hispanica Learning Community and Spanish Club. Sept. 26, 6:15 p.m. 309 Pearson Hall Speaker Steffen W. Schmidt, University Professor of Political Science, will speak on "Latino Empowerment! How American Latinos/Latinas Must Leverage Their 'Majority Minority' Status and Become a Real Force in American Politics." Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Great Hall, Memorial Union Speaker Gilberto Garcia, professor with the Chicano Studies Program at Eastern Washington University, will speak and give a slide presentation on "Beisbol: Latinos in the Major League." Sept. 29, noon Dance and Party The dance party will feature a salsa/merenge workshop from 8 to 9 p.m. Sept. 30, 8 p.m. Sun Room, Memorial Union Film "El Norte" will be presented by Casa Hispanica Learning Community and Spanish Club. Oct. 3, 6:15 p.m. 309 Pearson Hall Ports of Call Latino food prepared by students, faculty and staff will be featured. Oct. 5, 11 a.m. Margaret Sloss Women's Center Film and Discussion "The Milagro Beanfield War" will be shown, followed by a discussion. Oct. 6, 6 p.m. Chessman Lounge, Friley Hall Film "Romero USA" will be presented by Casa Hispanica Learning Community and Spanish Club. Oct. 10, 6:15 p.m. 309 Pearson Hall Noche de Cultura (Cultural Night) The event will feature a speaker, traditional Latino/a apparel, fashion and talent show. Oct. 15, 8 p.m. Great Hall, Memorial Union |
||||
| Iowa State homepage University Relations, online@iastate.edu |
||||