Purdue Latino Cultural Center announces busy spring semester of activities

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Latin American film Festival, the Purdue Latino Experience and "Celebrando Our History, Somos Purdue Gala" are part of a long list of spring semester activities scheduled for Purdue University's Latino Cultural Center.

The Purdue Latino Experience, set for Feb. 26, will be a student-led panel discussion of Latino students from various backgrounds and countries, who will speak about their educational experience leading them to Purdue and their experiences at the university. The Embajadores, the LCC's service-learning organization to help participants build awareness and understanding of Latino cultures through educational programs, will lead the panel discussion.

Celebrando Our History, Somos Purdue Gala is an April 12 event that honors past, present and future leaders of the Purdue community reflecting the history of Latino people and cultures through the university and LCC's history. The theme for the LCC's 10th-year anniversary celebration is Somos Latinos, Somos Purdue.

Four films - scheduled for Thursday (Jan. 31), Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 - are part of the festival and will showcase films relative to Latino cultures and community. Purdue faculty and staff will guide film discussions with various student organizations from the Latino Student Council.

Other spring semester activities include:

* Latin American Film Festival. 6 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 31). Beering Hall, Room 2280. "Waiting List." ("Lisa de espera"). For a film description go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053146/. For more information go to http://purdue.edu/LCC

* Latin American Film Festival. 6 p.m. Feb. 28. Lawson Computer Science Building, Room B155."Black Orpheus." For a film description go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053146/. For more information go to http://purdue.edu/LCC

* Latin American Film Festival. 6 p.m. March 28. Beering Hall, Room 2280. "The Son of the Bride."  For a film description go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292542/. For more information go to http://purdue.edu/LCC

* Latin American Film Festival. 6 p.m. April 11. Beering Hall, Room 2280. "Alicia en el pueblo de Maravillas/Alice in Wondertown." For a film description go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101295/. For more information go to hpp://purdue.edu/LCC

* Semana de la Raza -. Feb. 25 to March 1. Week of the People is a series of events organized by the Purdue Latino Cultural Center to raise awareness of issues and cultural nuances. For more information go to http://purdue.edu/LCC. Activities during the week include: "Two Sisters and a Piano" play reading. 7 p.m. Mallet Theater, Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts. The Purdue Latino Experience. 5 p.m. Feb. 26. Stewart Center, Room 202.

* Indiana Latino Leadership Conference. All day. March 2. For more information go to http://www.illc.info

* La Polilla Café. Noon to 1 p.m. March 28. La Polilla Café (Bookworm Café) is a bilingual book club that meets quarterly to discuss contemporary and classical works by Latin American and Latino/a authors. The Women's Resource Network is co-sponsoring this event. The discussion will be on the book "The Line of the Sun" by Judith Ortiz Cofer. RSVP is required. For more information, go to http://www.purdue.edu/butler/purdue-womens-network.shtml

* Celebrando Our History, Somos Purdue Gala. 7 p.m. April 12. Purdue Memorial Union East/West Faculty Lounges. RSVP required. Contact the LCC for more information.

* Dia de la Familia. 1 p.m. April 13. Latino Cultural Center and Slayter Center. The celebration includes a family-style gathering and a concert by Grupo Fantasma.  Grupo Fantasma will perform at dusk.

* Latino Cultural Center Graduation Ceremony. 4-6 p.m. May 10. Dauch Alumni Center. For more information, concact Omar Diaz, odiaz@purdue.edu

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu