 "Photo: Lynnsay Crittenden")
 "Photo: Lynnsay Crittenden")
The Memorial Student Center's Committee for Awareness of Mexican-American Culture,had the Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Thursday in Rudder Forum.
Antonio Cepeda-Benito, dean of faculties and associate provost, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. The lecture was followed by a performance by Ballet Folklorico (Lol-Lxiim) Flor de Maiz from Yucatan Mexico. During the event, facilitators announced future Hispanic Heritage Month events, eager to have a good turn out from students, faculty and staff.
"With this year's overflowing population of freshmen, we had a superior quantity of attendants at the Kick-Off," said Jose Manuel Chapa, CAMAC's Interim Chairman.
Even though the University is experiencing a spike in the Hispanic population on campus, this event had a remarkable attendance from diverse students, cultures and faculty, representing a diversifying institution. CAMAC, the first Hispanic organization on campus founded in 1974, is not only open to Hispanic students.
"This organization is not just for Mexicans or Hispanics, but for everyone who wants to be part of a growing, fun organization dedicated to the success of its constituents," said Elizabeth A. Saucedo, administrative director for CAMAC.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the month begins Sept. 15 for five Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Sept.16 is Mexican Independence Day, also known as El Grito de Dolores or El Grito de Independencia (the Cry of Independence). This year, Mexico celebrated 199 years as an independent country, having declared independence from Spanish rule in 1810.
Just before midnight on Sept. 15, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo along with Costilla addressed the Roman Catholic congregation in Dolores to join in a struggle for national independence in a famous speech, known to history as the Grito de Dolores. That first Grito began with the ringing of the church bells in the state of Guanajuato to call the Mexican people to a movement for independence. Because of these historic events, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 were designated as the official Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988.
Raul Samano, CAMAC's Operations Director, said "with the rise of group memberships this year, we expect to excel the possibilities and hold a successful 2009 Hispanic Heritage Month."
CAMAC decided to expand this to a two-month celebration due to the amount of activities coordinated.
"[Since] there are multiple organizations who wish to represent their Hispanic heritage during this commemoration, if we scatter the proceedings in two months it will give each association an opportunity to represent their club," Samano said.
•Merienda by the Department of Multicultural Services September 23 11am- 1pm Koldus 227
This is a come and go event that is open and free to everyone. Come listen to music from different Latin cultures, meet new people, and taste a sampling of items such as pan dulce, empanadas, ague fresco, pao de queijo and much more.
•Juana Bordas, President of Mestiza Leadership International presents: "The Power of WE-Leading in our Diverse and Multicultural World" September 29 8am-10am Koldus 110
•Juan Bordas presents "De Colores: Celebrating Hispanic Cultural Traditions" September 29 7pm-8:30 pm Rudder 301
•Caliente September 30 5:30-10:30 pm
•Movie Premier and Discussion, "The Bronse Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Images in Hollywood" October 7 7:30-finished Village Café, Bryan, TX
•Hispanic Heritage Month Scholarship Pageant October 9 7pm-finished Wehner 113
•Mi Casa Es Su Casa October 15 6:30pm
•National Hispanic HIV/AIDS Awareness Day October 15
•Salsa Dance Night & Competition October 23 8pm Studio 12 Spectators join them on the dance floor for FREE Latin dance lessons
•Dia De Los Muertos 7-9 pm Studio 12
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