Claflin University Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

Orangeburg, S.C. – Claflin University is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events that officially kick off Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Highlights include a film series, a Hispanic Heritage Month display on campus and more. The community is invited to join in the celebration.

• Wednesday, Oct. 8 — Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off. 11:15 a.m. Panther Plaza. Featuring the Mariachi Los Cabos Band, and greetings and reading of President Barack Obama’s National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation in English and Spanish.
• Thursday, Oct. 9 — Film Series: “The Last Supper (la ultima cena)”. 6:30 p.m. H.V. Manning Library. A pious plantation owner attempts to teach Christianity to 12 of his slaves by inviting them to reenact the Last Supper.
• Sunday, Oct. 12 — Film Series: “Amores Perros”. 6:30 p.m. H.V. Manning Library. A car crash draws the very different lives of three Mexico City inhabitants into a strange and dangerous triangle.
• Tuesday, Oct. 14 — Taco Day in the Café.
• Through Wednesday, Oct. 15 — Hispanic Heritage Month display. H.V. Manning Library.
• Sunday, Oct. 26 — Film Series: “Motorcycle Diaries”. 6:30 p.m. H.V. Manning Library. Based on a true story, this is an inspiring and thrilling adventure that traces the youthful origins of a revolutionary spirit.
• Tuesday, Oct. 28 — Freshman Assembly: Dr. Luis Miletti. 11 a.m. W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center. Dr. Luis Miletti is dean of Multicultural Affairs at Clark Atlanta University.

National Hispanic Heritage Month – which has its roots in 1968 – is observed annually Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 to recognize the contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States, and to celebrate the group’s heritage and culture. It begins each year on the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period, and Columbus Day is Oct. 12.

For more information about National Hispanic Heritage Month, visit http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/.