By Eric Reikowski, media relations assistant
Oakland University will showcase Hispanic culture during “Las Ciudades del mundo hispánico, Cities of the Hispanic World,” the 2008 Hispanic Celebration. The events, which include a “tour” of Hispanic cities, a professional cooking demonstration and a trip to Mexicantown, begin Monday, Sept. 15 and run through Friday, Oct. 3.
The opening ceremony will take place Sept. 15, from noon-1 p.m. in the Oakland Center Fireside Lounge. Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and Provost Virinder Moudgil will deliver opening remarks and introduce keynote speaker Gabriela Ortiz Rodriguez from Hispanic Outreach Services in Pontiac. Hispanic food and beverage samplings will be provided, along with entertainment by Mariachi Nuevo Zapopan.
On Friday, Sept. 19, a panel of OU students will discuss their experiences traveling the globe. A trip to Detroit’s Mexicantown and Eastern Market will be offered Saturday, Sept. 20. Participants can have lunch, at their own cost, at Xochimilco Restaurant. Free bus transportation will be provided.
This year’s Hispanic celebration is in support of the College of Arts and Sciences “Cities” theme and will feature a wealth of information on major cities of Latin America, said Jean Ann Miller, director of the Center for Student Activities.
“Every year, we have a lot of celebrations of the different cultures represented on our campus,” said Miller. “The Hispanic celebration is always the first one in a long-standing tradition of honoring those cultures.”
This year’s celebration will include scholarly lectures on Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lima (Peru) and Cartagena, Colombia, as well as a photographic tour of urban Brazil.
Festivities will conclude Friday, Oct. 3 with ISSO’s Annual Fiesta International from noon-2 p.m. on the Oakland Center patio. The event is sponsored by the International Students and Scholars Office and will feature musical entertainment by former director of the Center for Multicultural Initiatives Gloria Sosa and her band Dondé. Food and beverage samplings will be provided.
Other Hispanic Celebration events include:
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Friday, Sept. 26
Tuesday, Sept. 30
The Hispanic Celebration 2008 is sponsored by the Center for International Programs, Center for Multicultural Initiatives, Center for Student Activities, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, Department of University Housing, Honors College and International Students and Scholars Office. For more information on the events, contact the Center for Student Activities office at (248) 370-2400.