For more information contact Cheryl Cain
CONTACT: Julie Navejar
kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

Texas A&M-Kingsville Celebrates
Hispanic Heritage With Many Events

KINGSVILLE (September 11, 2003) — The Hispanic Heritage committee at Texas A&M University-Kingsville has planned numerous events on campus to celebrate the special month.

The kick off for Hispanic Heritage Month will be Tuesday, Sept. 16, Diez y Seis de Septiembre. There will be music and snacks at 7 p.m. in the first floor lounge of the Student Union Building. Event calendars listing a month of activities will be available at that time. There will also be a pool tournament in the Cue Shack game room.

During the Fiesta Javelina, Wednesday, Sept. 17, visitors can travel to different Latino countries without ever leaving campus. Beginning at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Building courtyard, student organizations will set up booths representing various countries. They will feature costumes, food and information about the country. Prizes will be awarded to the best booths. Mariachi Kiñeno will provide entertainment.

The popular Tejano dance band, Grupo Diseño, will play at a free dance at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, in the Student Union Building courtyard. In the event of inclement weather, the dance will be held in the Tejas Room in the Student Union Building.

Anyone who has always wanted to learn how to make a piñata will enjoy Piñata Fest from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Student Union Building courtyard. This activity is free and materials will be provided. Be sure wear appropriate craft clothing.

A showing of the movie “Real Women Have Curves” will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in room 100 of the Biology Earth Sciences building. Following the meeting there will be a discussion of the film by Dolores Guerrero, assistant psychology/sociology professor and director of the social work program.

“Real Women Have Curves” is the story of Ana, a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman. She lives in the predominately Latino community of East Los Angeles. She has just graduated from high school and has earned a full scholarship to Columbia University. However, her traditional parents expect her to join the family business.

A panel discussion on Successful Hispanic Women will be held at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, in room 218 of the Student Union Building. Panel members are Dr. Lupita Thompson, bilingual education professor at A&M-Kingsville and professor emeritus from Oklahoma State University; Alice Mendoza, director of pharmacy at Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg; and Minnie Henderson, pharmacist and past president of the Kingsville Independent School District Board of Trustees and the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce. Those attending may bring their lunch. Beverages will be provided.

During the week of Monday, Sept. 29, through Friday, Oct. 3, students may showcase their talent at noon in the courtyard of the Student Union Building. During the same week, different Latino foods will be served in the Tejas Room.

Another lunch discussion will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. The topic will be “Frida Kahlo: Life and Art Intertwined.” Brenda Canizalez, art graduate student, and Becky Maez, director of the Women’s Center, will provide a glimpse into the life and art of one of Mexico’s most famous artists. Those attending may bring their lunch to room 219A in the
Student Union Building. Beverages will be provided.

The film “Frida” will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 2-3, in room 100 of the Biology Earth Sciences building. This Academy Award winning film stars Salma Hayek and tells the story of artist Frida Kahlo.

Comedian Gabriel Iglesias returns to campus for a concert appearance at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Jones Auditorium. Admission is $5 for A&M-Kingsville students with a valid identification card and $10 for the general public. Some of Iglesias’ material may not be suitable for children.

The communications and theatre arts department will perform its production of “The House of Bernarda Alba” Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9-10, and Sunday, Oct. 12. Performances Thursday and Friday begin at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday’s matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m. All performances will be in the Little Theatre. Admission is $3.

The play was written in 1936, just before the start of the Spanish Civil War. This intense look into the family of Bernarda combines tragedy, desire, jealousy, anger and fear as one woman strives to maintain control of her shattered household.

If dancing is your thing, attend the Salsa Dance Party at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in ballroom A of the Student Union Building. If you don’t know how to salsa dance, instructors will be on hand to offer lessons. Admission is free.

If dancing is not for you, then maybe poetry is. There will be a poetry recital with commentary by Tino Villarreal, one of our most important Chicano poets. There will be an introduction by Dr. Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, language and literature lecturer at A&M-Kingsville and professor emeritus in English, linguistics, communications and information
studies. The recital will be at 7 p.m. in room 219A of the Student Union Building.

One of the highlights of Hispanic Heritage Month is the banquet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Student Union Building ballrooms. This year the banquet will feature a lesson in the history and traditions of Dia de Los Muertos. Tickets for the banquet are $6 for students and $12 for the general public.

A special event this year is a performance by the University Dance Group from Bellas Artes at Universidad Autonoma, Benito Juarez de Oaxaca. This group will present indigenous dances in traditional costumes. Their performance will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in ballroom A of the Student Union Building. Admission is free for A&M-Kingsville students with a valid identification card and $5 for all others. The proceeds of this event (if any) will be at the disposition of the Hispanic Heritage Committee, which is a non-profit university committee funded through student fees for the cultural enrichment of the student body about Hispanic cultures.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, students from area elementary, middle and high schools will be invited to participate in an altar building competition for Dia de Los Muertos. A&M-Kingsville students will also participate. The altars will be displayed and the winners will be announced during the Hispanic Heritage banquet. Altars are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Women’s Center on the third floor of the Student Union Building. Cash prizes will be awarded.

All Hispanic Heritage events are open to the public and are free unless noted. Sponsors of the activities are the art department, the Campus Activities Board, the communications and theatre arts department, Kappa Delta Chi, Residence Life, Sodexho Campus Dining, the Student Government Association, the Student Union and Student Activities offices and the Women’s Center.

For more information on any of the events call 361-593-2760.

-TAMUK-