NDSU has a series of events scheduled to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. All events are free and open to the public.
Bradley Benton, assistant professor of history, will lead a lecture and question-and-answer session titled “The End is Near: The Maya Apocalypse of 2012” Wednesday, Sept. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Arikara room. The so-called Maya apocalypse is set to occur in late December. Benton will explore the ancient Maya civilization, their advanced calendar system and the roots of the doomsday prophecy.
“The actual evidence we have from the ancient Maya regarding a cataclysmic event in 2012 is not very convincing,” Benton said. “Most of the current hype surrounding the Maya apocalypse arises from the projection of our own Western traditions of end-times prophesies onto this ancient Mesoamerican culture.”
The presentation also will feature a display of student projects directed by Carol Pearson, associate professor of Spanish. Pearson’s contribution will highlight Aztec calendaring with a display of posters on the Codex Borbonicus. The event is co-sponsored by the Equity and Diversity Center and Compass Program Foundation.
Other Hispanic Heritage Month events include a Pan y Café + Spanish film and book exchange Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the NDSU Equity and Diversity Center. All are invited to celebrate the Spanish language and enjoy sweet bread and coffee. Spanish language films and books are being accepted at the Equity and Diversity Center for those interested in donating toward the exchange.
Movie producer Dan Guerrero will introduce a documentary honoring his late father on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 12:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Century Theatre. “Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano” highlights 70 years of Mexican-American history, featuring an array of musical genres and personal stories from numerous Chicano artists and activists.
Guerrero also is scheduled to present his critically acclaimed solo show bridging his identities as Latino and gay with music, laughter and poignancy. “¡GAYTINO!” Is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in NDSU Festival Concert Hall. Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at this event for the NDSU Equity and Diversity Center.
Benjamin Smith, professor of Spanish at Minnesota State University Moorhead, is scheduled to share his experiences walking the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James in Spain. “World iView: Monasteries and Manuscripts Along the Camino de Santiago” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, at noon in the Memorial Union Century Theatre. The event is presented by the NDSU Office of International Programs.
For more information, visit www.ndsu.edu/edcenter or contact Regina Ranney at the NDSU Equity and Diversity Center at 231-5263.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.