Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Food, fun and fiesta

FAU students and faculty celebrated the beginning of the Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month with music, dancing and free food on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Traditions Plaza on the Boca campus.

Once the live band started playing, many hips in the crowd started moving to the music. The most adventurous didn’t think twice before walking to the front and showing their moves, while the shy ones were discreetly doing some steps in their places or clapping their hands following the rhythm.

“I like the music. They should make more room for people to dance,” said Pablo Carreño, who is double majoring in Spanish Literature and Acting.

Besides the live music, the kick-off event for the Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month also offered free Hispanic food. The menu included: white rice, black beans, sweet plantains and a choice of chicken or beef.

The kickoff event was sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, with the participation of several other student organizations including the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), the fraternity Alpha Psi Lambda, the sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma and the Haitian Student Organization Konbit Kreyol.

“This event is important because FAU has a large diverse population. We want to make sure we honor and celebrate everyone’s background as best as we can,” said Juan Izaguirre, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. “For me, as a Latino, this is very exciting,” he added.

Currently there are 6,332 Hispanic students at FAU, which makes up 21.5% of the student body. According to data from the 2010 U.S. Census, Hispanics are now the fastest growing minority in the nation, encompassing 16% of the total population.

FAU’s diversity provides all students an opportunity to learn about different cultures and to broaden their horizons by experiencing events such as this.

“It’s a beautiful event. It should have been promoted more broadly because the most important thing for a human being is not to forget where they come from,” said Luglia Rivera, a Spanish major.

The Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month is celebrated every year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. During this period, all FAU campuses will be holding events ranging from dance lessons and comedy nights to lectures and forums. Check out their list of events and have fun!
(Events are free and open to all unless otherwise noted.)

FAU Boca Raton

Monday, Sept. 19, 12 to 1 p.m.
Student Union
Legacy of the Latino/a Greek Movement
Contact: Naria Martinez, [email protected]
On college campuses across the country, Latino/a Greek-lettered organizations have expanded and established themselves as reputable organizations, diversifying Greek life. Come and learn more about the history and impact of the Latino/a based fraternities and sororities with their Latino/a cultural influences. Hosted by the Multicultural Greek Council at FAU.

Monday Sept.19, 7 to 9 p.m.
Majestic Palm Room A, Student Union
Spitfires, Latin Lovers and Banditos
Contact: Carlton O’Neal, (561) 297-4037
A discussion of how Latinos/as are portrayed in film and within the mainstream media.Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Live Oak Pavilion C & D, Student Union
Hispanic Heritage Month Scholarship Banquet
Contact: Elieth Carrillo, 561-674-7672
Alpha Psi Lambda is committed to the advancement of Latinos/as in education. Join the launch of the first-ever Alpha Psi Lambda – Upsilon Chapter’s Hispanics Heritage Month Scholarship Fund scholarship, which will be awarded to one incoming Hispanic freshman. Email contact listed above for information.Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:15 p.m.
Coyote Jack’s, Student Union
Salsa and Bachata Lessons
Contact: Mary-Elizabeth McNamara, 954-732-6634
This is an opportunity for students to come and learn different styles of Caribbean Spanish dances. Learn the basic steps, different styles of music and the history of these dance styles.Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Recreation and Fitness Center Primetime Courts
Campus Recreation: Latin Zumba Night
Contact: Erin Stevens, 561-297-3034
Latin Zumba night is an hour-long dance class that is easy and fun for everyone. This class uses a combination of high energy, motivating music and unique moves that will help you dance away your worries. Students only.Friday, Sept. 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
Coyote Jack’s, Student Union
Oye Mi Canto
Contact: Jeanie Dumas, 561-297-4037
Join Multicultural Programming for a night of Spanish music.Monday, Sept. 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
Majestic Palm Room A, Student Union
Influential Latinos and Latinas
Contact: Carlton O’neal, 561-297-4037
This event will tell the stories of influential people of Latin descent and how they have impacted the Latin image throughout the world.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Live Oak Pavilion C& D
Zumba Fitness Event
Contact: Elieth Carrillo, 561-674-7672
Experience Zumba, the Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Feel the music and let loose! Open to everyone.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m.
Queen Palm Room, Student Union
Not this Time? – Latinos and President Obama in 2012
Contact: Boris Bastidas, 954-529-3182
A presentation on the Obama Administration’s immigration policy such as new deportation rules, push-back against the Arizona Law, failure to pass the DREAM Act and more. Should Latino voters abandon President Obama in 2012?

Monday, Oct. 3, 5:30 p.m.
Sugar Palm Room, Student Union
Walk in My Shoes Forum
Contact: Marcelle Aquino, 954-592-2238
Come and listen to Dr. Felix Padilla speak about issues concerning Latino students on campuses such as FAU. This will be a great opportunity to have your eyes opened and get insight on what it is like to walk in my shoes.

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Coyote Jack’s, Student Union
Hispanic Poetry Night
Contact: Marcelle Aquino, 954-592-2238
This will be a relaxing environment strictly dedicated to poems and spoken word of Latin flavor and descent. Local poets will be coming out to share.

Wednesday, Oct.  5, 7 p.m.
Coyote Jack’s, Student Union
Latin Comedy Night
Contact: Elieth Carrillo, 561-674-7672
Join us to watch comedians perform stand up. The crowd chooses a winner who will receive a grand prize.

Friday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Live Oak Pavilion A-D, Student Union
2011 Miss Latina Pagent
Contact: Marcelle Aquino, 954-592-2238
ALAS will be hosting our annual Miss Latina Pageant to select the ideal woman who demonstrates what it means to be Latina at FAU.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.
University Theater
Spanish Spectacular! Opening Concert of the FAU Symphony Orchestra’s 2011-12 Season
Contact: Laura Joella, 561-297-2262, [email protected]
Join us at the symphony’s first concert of the season, which will open with the crowd-pleaser Pinata (1991) by American composer Robert Xavier Rodriguez and continue with music by Argentine composer Julian Aguirre and Spanish composers Joaquín Rodrigo, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Maurice Ravel.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Live Oak Pavilion A & B, Student Union
Ritmo Latino
Contact: Marcelle Aquino, 954-592-2238
This is a celebration to end Hispanic Heritage Month with Latin music, food, and fun!Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, BC-71, Room 126
Childhood Obesity in the Hispanic Population
Contact: Mario Jacomino, 561-297-0723
Come and hear Dr. Mario Jacomino present general information regarding childhood obesity and how that medical problem is affecting the Hispanic population in Palm Beach County .

 

FAU Broward Campuses

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Fort Lauderdale campus Plaza
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Contact: Student Involvement and Leadership, 954-236-1219
Join us in kicking off the celebration for Hispanic Heritage on the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Ccampus.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Davie campus, College Plaza
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Contact: Student Involvement and Leadership, 954-236-1219
Join us in kicking off the celebration for Hispanic Heritage on the Davie Campus Plaza.

Thursday, Sept. 29, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dania Beach campus
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Contact: Student Involvement and Leadership, 954-236-1219
Join us in kicking off the celebration for Hispanic Heritage on the Sea Tech Campus.

Friday, Oct. 14, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Davie campus, College Plaza
Family Carnival – Celebracion Hispano
Contact: Broward Program Board, 954-236-1251
Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage with an interactive day of family fun including entertainment, games, free food, face painting, snow cones and lots more.


 

FAU Jupiter

Through Friday, Oct. 14 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
John D. Macarthur Campus Library
Campus Art Exhibition: “Detour” by Josafat Miranda
Contact: Diane Arrieta, 561-799-8530
Miami artist Josafat Miranda creates art on canvas, wood, aluminum, cardboard or paper with excellent precision. His collection displayed inside the John D. MacArthur Campus Library employs encaustic, an ancient technique that involves adding pigments to heated wax and applying the resulting paste to a surface.

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Housing – RH1
Learning Latin Dancing
Contact: Stephanie Lopez, [email protected], or Sarah Sax, [email protected]
No matter your dancing proficiency this is the opportunity to learn new dances from a variety of Latin backgrounds from FAU students who know the moves. Students only.

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
SR 108
Learning Latin Dancing
Contact: Stephanie Lopez, [email protected], or Sarah Sax, [email protected]
This program is another opportunity to learn new dances from a variety of Latin backgrounds from FAU students who know the moves. This session is open to dancers of all levels.


 

FAU Treasure Coast

Thursday, Sept.  29, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
MP Lobby
Hispanic Heritage Day
Contact:  Program Board, 772-873-3441
Students will experience different types of food, along with fun activities and information regarding Hispanic and Latino cultures.

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 4 to 6 p.m.
MP 101
Movie Night: 90 Miles
Contact: Farley Leiriao, 772-873-3382
In 1980, Juan Carlos Zaldivar was a 13-year-old loyalist of the Cuban Revolution jeering in the streets at the thousands of “Marielitos” leaving the island by boat for the United States.  Within weeks, he was a Marielito himself, headed with the rest of his family to Miami. Now a U.S-.based filmmaker (Girlfight, Sense and Sensibility, On the Ropes) Zaldivar recounts the strange twist of fate that took him across one of the world’s most treacherous stretches of water in 90 Miles.

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  • D

    DeeSep 18, 2011 at 9:26 am

    The article would benefit more if it mentioned the organization who are hosting these events. In the area where the author explained the event detail, the author should have a section that was dedicated to the organization that is responsible for the event. The name of the organization who is hosting it is just as important as the event itself. For example, the Spitfires, Latin Lovers and Banditos lecture is hosted by Multicultural Programming. There is no mention of this organization. Another example is Hispanic Poetry Night. Who is hosting this event? There are many others like this. As an FAU student, I would like to have this information.

    Reply
  • C

    Carlton OnealSep 18, 2011 at 3:24 am

    The kickoff was cosponsored by Multicultural Programming, that seems to have been forgotten and lost in this article.

    Reply
  • J

    Jeanie DumasSep 18, 2011 at 2:47 am

    The event was sponsored by Multicultural Programming, a Boca Raton Student Government agency. Everything that the students enjoyed, such as the band, the food, and the t-shirts, was paid for by MP.

    Reply