September 10, 2004

Latino Heritage Month kicks off Sept. 19

by Bonnie Marx

CARBONDALE, Ill. - - "Changing Misconceptions" is the theme for Latino Heritage Month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The observance begins Sunday, Sept. 19, with the eighth annual welcome picnic. Other activities include an original bilingual play, films, panel discussions and a Latino heritage knowledge bowl. Events continue through Oct. 12

Enhancing students' understanding of the value of diversity is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.

For more information, contact SIUC's Multicultural Programs and Services office at 618/453-5714. Here's the schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 19

  • Eighth Annual Welcome Picnic, noon-4 p.m., campus boat docks.

  • Tuesday, Sept. 14

  • "Mipueblo.biz," 7 p.m., Student Center Ballroom D. El Teatro Milagro (The Miracle Theater) presents its newest original bilingual play, an intriguing and charming drama filled with traditional costumes, colorful masks and folkloric music. Set in the Andes Mountains of Peru, "Mipueblo.biz" tells the story of a missionary who arrives in a small village with grand ideas and good intentions. With her laptop, she shares with them a global view they've never seen and the possibilities of selling their culture and their lives over the Internet.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

  • Fourth Annual Poetry Night, 7-9 p.m., Café  Mé lange, 607 S. Illinois Ave. Participate or relax and listen.

Thursday, Sept. 16

  • Salsarobics, 5-6 p.m., Student Recreation Center. Dance-based aerobics classes. Offered Thursdays, Sept. 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7, and Tuesdays Sept. 21, 28 and Oct. 5.

Friday, Sept. 17

  • Festival Latino, noon, Free Forum Area. Entertainment and refreshments.

Monday, Sept. 20

  • Brown Bag Series: A Latino Studies Program at SIUC?, noon, Student Center Mississippi Room. Join a panel of SIUC faculty for an in-depth discussion on what it would take for a Latino Studies Program to be implemented and succeed at SIUC.

Tuesday, Sept. 21

  • Brown Bag Series: "Shabuya," noon, Student Center Illinois Room. SIUC alumnus Mario Contreras screens his senior thesis film, "Shabuya," that follows the Freedom Ride experience of migrant workers from stops at the offices of Illinois congressional leaders to Washington, D.C. A question and answer session follows.

Friday, Sept. 24

  • Noche de Gala, 7-11 p.m., Student Center Ballrooms C and D. A night of salsa dancing and live music. A workshop will precede the event to teach salsa dancing.

Tuesday, Sept. 28

  • Brown Bag Series: Two-Way Bilingual Programs, noon, Student Center Illinois Room. Joan E. Friedenberg, SIUC professor of linguistics, speaks about the growing population of students whose primary language in not English and the skills needed to effectively teach bilingual students.

Thursday, Sept. 30

  • Latino Heritage Month Knowledge Bowl, 7 p.m., Student Center Video Lounge. Three-person teams will compete to see which has the better knowledge of Latino/Latina culture. Teams may sign up with Giezi Licardie, giezi@siu.edu.

Sunday, Oct. 3

  • "Bread & Roses" outdoor movie, 7:30 p.m., Bowyer Hall at Thompson Point. In this movie, South American immigrant sisters team up with a union organizer to unionize the Los Angeles janitorial service where they work. Refreshments will be provided. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Parking will be available in Lot 4 by the Communications Building.

Tuesday, Oct. 5

  • Brown Bag Series, noon, Student Center Mississippi Room. Bring your lunch and share in an informational chat with a Latino/a focus.

  • Thursday, Oct. 7

  • Being Latino and Gay, 7 p.m., Student Center Mississippi Room. Rick Garcia, political director of Equality Illinois, will speak about his life experience of growing up Latino and gay. Jorge Oliver, assistant professor in electronic and photographic media at Webster University, will screen his film, "Pride in Puerto Rico," which documents the 1999 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride March in Puerto Rico.

Friday, Oct. 8

  • Latino Heritage Month Talent Show, 6 p.m., Shryock Auditorium steps. Contestants may sign up to participate in this G-rated show by contacting Jorge Torres, george@siu.edu.

Saturday, Oct. 9

  • Educational Issues Facing Latino/a Students, 6 p.m., Lesar Law School Auditorium. A panel of educators and administrators will discuss the issues facing Latino/a students today and how they are faring in their educational pursuits. Question and answer session to follow. Refreshments and snacks will be available.

Sunday, Oct. 10

  • Friends and Neighbors, 1:30 p.m., St. Francis Xavier Church, 303 Poplar St. Community building and bonding through brunch, conversation and friendship.

Tuesday, Oct. 12

  • Brown Bag Series, noon, Student Center Mackinaw Room. Provide feedback on this year's Latino Heritage Month and provide suggestions for the 2005 celebration.