Sketching pictures of Ronald Reagan on an overhead projector as he spoke, syndicated editorial cartoonist Lalo Alcarez filled a classroom with laughter last night.
Alcarez's talk was the opening event of Hispanic Heritage Month. He started the humorous tone of the evening by writing commentary on the overhead while he was being introduced, then continued by showcasing some of his cartoons, which focus on issues pertinent to people of Hispanic origin.
His visit fits with the theme for the month, "Latinos and Latinas in the Arts," but drawn art is just one aspect of it.
The 12 events, spread throughout the month of November, include open microphone poetry, an interactive art presentation and a dance. There also will be traditional heritage month events such as Children's Day, a business attire fashion show and a food festival.
"We have tried to concentrate on doing different activities that would touch on different types of art," said Melissa Landrau-Rodriguez, director of the College Assistance Migrant Program, who is an overall coordinator for the month's activities.
One change to this year's celebration is the closing activity, "Noche Latina," which is a Mr. and Ms. Latino/a pageant. The annual pageant usually falls in the spring but was moved to the end of the month to coincide with the heritage festivities.
Tonight, one of the floats in the homecoming parade will match the month's theme. Ten student groups in the Latino community collaborated to create the float. The organizations, which are working together to coordinate Hispanic Heritage Month events, have joined to make a group float for the first time.
"It gives you an opportunity of seeing what other people think," said Johann Sasso, president of the Puerto Rican Student Association (PRSA), about the cooperative effort. "It really helps you in your experience as a person."
Erika Mendoza, president of Latino Caucus, which acts as an umbrella group for other Latino organizations, also is pleased to see different groups collaborate.
"That's what I'm looking forward to," she said, "seeing everybody work together."
The PRSA is focusing all of its activities into the week of Nov. 12, which is Penn State's Puerto Rican Awareness Week. The group will host the annual food festival on Nov. 12 and hold a formal on Nov. 16. Tickets for the formal will be available in the PRSA office in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center next week.
Although different organizations are working on each activity, almost all of the students will be attending the Children's Day on Nov. 11, when all kinds of activities with kids in mind will be in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. Fliers are posted in local day care centers, businesses and campus locations inviting parents to bring children along to see magic tricks, play games, hear stories and interact with students.
"It's so much fun just to be with kids," Sasso said.
Hispanic Heritage Month activities are open to the general public. Most events are free, but a few will require a fee.
"I just hope that the Penn State community decides to support these activities and attend something different, something new that they might not attend during the regular part of the year," Landrau-Rodriguez said.
