EIU Media Relations

Banquet to Highlight Latino Heritage Celebration

Latino Heritage Celebration activities at Eastern Illinois University will take place during the months of September and October, with the major event -- the annual Latino Heritage Banquet -- set for Sunday, Sept. 23.

With its theme "Orgullo Latino:  Latino Pride," this year's celebration lineup includes music and movies, as well as lectures. 

"We look forward to this year's celebration," said Juanita Cross, planning committee chair.  "Latino Heritage Month is an opportunity to increase awareness and appreciation for the Latino roots of our nation among the EIU and local central Illinois communities at-large."

Admission to all events, with the exception of the banquet, is free.

The banquet, which will begin with the dinner at 6 p.m., will be followed with a performance by Eastern's Latin/Jazz Ensemble.  The evening's activities will close with music and dancing, courtesy of a disc jockey playing Latino tunes.

This year's menu will include carnitas w/ warm tortillas (pork tacos) or quesadillas, both available w/ fresh toppings (sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa); moros (red beans and rice); boniato puree (mashed sweet potato); fruit salad; and bunuelos (fried cinnamon crips) or bread pudding.

Tickets for the event, priced at $15 ($8 for EIU students), may now be purchased in the EIU Gateway Office, Blair Hall, Room 2170.  Cash or check only.  For ticket information, contact Pam Warpenburg at 217-581-6692.

Other Latino Heritage Celebration events scheduled to take place on the EIU campus include:

· " Walkout," movie, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, Coleman Hall Auditorium.

· "Chavez, Lula, Bachelet and George W. Bush:  Latin America, the Pink Tide and the U.S. Under a Neo-Conservative Administration," 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, Oakland Room, MLK Jr. Union.  Presented by Jose Deustua, EIU Dept. of History.

· "Angel Rodriguez," movie, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, Coleman Hall Auditorium.

· "Effects of Civil War in Salvadoran Civil Society," lecture, 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, Effingham Room, MLK Jr. Union.  Presented by Carlos Amaya, EIU Dept. of Foreign Languages.

· "Civil War in El Salvador :  A True Story of Survival," movie, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, Effingham Room, MLK Jr. Union.

· "Popular Music in Latin America," lecture, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, Booth Library, Room 4440.  Co-presented by Jose Deustua, EIU Dept. of History, and Allen Lanham, dean, Booth Library.

· "Latin American Food," lecture, 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, Arcola/Tuscola Room, MLK Jr. Union.  Presented by Kristin Routt, EIU Dept. of Foreign Languages.

· Q-and-A Panel Discussion on Immigration, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, Effingham Room, MLK Jr. Union.  Presented by Angela Aguayo, EIU Dept. of Communication Studies.

For up-to-date information on all of these events, plus other public events taking place at Eastern Illinois University, see http://www.eiu.edu/pubaff/calendar.php .