Puerto Rican week celebration to honor

heritage

A campus group is inviting students to get a taste of Puerto Rican culture.

Celebrating the 16th annual Puerto Rican Week, the Puerto Rican Association and the Latino Task Force, along with numerous other campus organizations, are planning educational events that tell the story of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States during the past 100 years. The events run from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22.

All events during Puerto Rican Week are free and open to the public.

"Our first goal is to unite the Puerto Rican community on campus. Secondly, we want to educate the university community, so people can learn about our island," said Juan Gaztambide, president of the PRA.

AP PHOTO The Kaye E. Barker of the Interlake Steamship Company rides at anchor in West Grand Traverse Bay yesterday, waiting out a gale on Lake Michigan.

PRA is scheduled to start the activities with an exhibit on Friday titled "Puerto Rico ... at a Glance," at the Student Lounge in the Michigan Union.

Lasting until Nov. 21, the exhibit will feature information on the island's political, cultural and social past. University students, the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. and the Puerto Rican government provided maps, timelines, pictures and biographies for the display.

"It's an informative piece on our culture, how we've evolved over the past 100 years and what the outlook is for the next century," said LSA sophomore Ricardo Perez, the exhibit's organizer.

PRA will kick the week off officially on Sunday with a traditional Puerto Rican buffet lunch at the Trotter House.

"Last year, the lunch was our most popular event," said Gaztambide, an LSA senior. "It attracted about 150 people.

Before the week ends, PRA will show the movie "La Gran Fiesta" and present speaker Piri Thomas, author of "Down These Streets," an account of his experience as a Puerto Rican immigrant in New York.

The time and place of the speech has not yet been announced.

Along with PRA, Alianza and the U-Club will hold two dance workshops, featuring salsa, merengue and Caribbean dancing.

The workshops will prepare interested students, faculty and staff for "Hasta el Amanecer" - a dance at the Trotter House to wind down the week.

"We hope the students, faculty and staff can be exposed to the different cultures that the University has to offer," said Katalina Berdy, Latina coordinator at the office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs.

Puerto Rican Week:

n "La Gran Fiesta" movie Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Angell Hall, Aud. B

n Hasta el Amancer Dance, Friday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Trotter House

11-11-98