Purdue News

October 7, 2002 Mexican consul to visit Purdue University WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Sergio Aguilera Beteta, the Consul of Mexico who recently opened an office in Indianapolis to serve Hispanic residents of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, will visit Purdue University on Tuesday, Oct. 15. A public forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. in the East-West faculty lounges in the Purdue Memorial Union. A reception will follow from 5-6 p.m. Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, Diversity Resource Office director, says several important issues will be addressed during the forum. "He will address the relationship between Mexico and the United states in this particular region and why there is a consulate in Indianapolis," Simpson-Taylor says. "He is particularly interested in marketing and commerce ventures. We also want to introduce the consul to Purdue and acknowledge the variety of connections that we have to Mexico. We have a strong Hispanic student organization here and a strong Latino presence." Simpson-Taylor also noted that Purdue has ties with Mexico through research initiatives, the international students and scholars program, study abroad and the ITESM, the institute of technology in Monterey, sometimes referred to as the "Purdue of Mexico." Hansel Monroy, president of the Latino Student Union at Purdue, says he also is looking forward to the consul's visit. "Not only is this a great opportunity to highlight some current Latino issues, but it is also a great opportunity for the university to forge relations, business or academic, with a country that has contributed much to the history of the Latin people in the U.S.," Monroy says. "Mr. Aguilera is in the unique position of being able to help the Latino community, and the Mexican community specifically, by highlighting some of the inequities in living conditions, educational opportunities and social standing of Mexican-Americans and all Latinos to high level state and federal officials." Mr. Aguilera has a bachelor's degree in international relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a master's in international relations from Columbia University. He joined the Mexican Foreign Service in 1966. Before being appointed in April to his post in Indianapolis, he served as consul general of Mexico in Shanghai, China, for three years. He also has served as consul general in Canada and Australia. The consul's visit officially concludes Hispanic Heritage Month at Purdue, which is co-sponsored by the Department of International Programs. CONTACT: Simpson-Taylor, (765) 494-7307, dmsimpson-taylor@purdue.edu; Monroy, (765) 420-7174, hansel@purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: While the consul has two surnames, he prefers to be addressed as Mr. Aguilera. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page