The Hispanic student organization Nosotros and Michigan Tech's Educational Opportunity Outreach and Multiethnic Programs Division are sponsoring the first ever Cinco de Mayo celebration held at MTU May 1-5. The event will feature guest speakers, tours, a pinata making demonstration, and a folk fiesta with the Mariachi Cora musicians.
"Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) is a holiday celebrated by Mexicans and Mexican Americans to commemorate the victory of a Mexican army over a French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862," explains Madeline Voelker, Hispanic/Latino outreach coordinator at Michigan Tech.
"The Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, won the battle even though the French force was better armed and three times as large. The battle took place after Emperor Napoleon III of France sent troops to conquer Mexico. Despite the Mexican victory, the French later gained control of Mexico City and established a French-supported government there. In 1866 and 1867, however, France withdrew its troops from Mexico because of resistance by the Mexicans and pressure from the United States. After the troop withdrawal, the French-backed government soon fell."
Voelker says Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico with parades, festivals, music, and dancing. In the United States celebrations often also include parades and folk dancing, as well as speeches, carnival rides, and Mexican music. She says students from the Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet schools will be attending some of this year's events at MTU, as will a group of students from Delta College near Saginaw.
The week kicks off May 1 with a presentation by William Cruz of Lucent Technologies titled "Differences in Communication Styles Between Latinos and Anglos." The talk will focus on the differences in verbal and nonverbal communication styles between the two groups and how these differences can cause misperceptions and misinterpretations that can lead to misunderstanding. Cruz's presentation is scheduled for 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Fisher Hall, room 135.
Tuesday will be dedicated to tours for the Delta College students.
On Wednesday, Taino Native American storyteller, lecturer, and poet Bobby Gonzalez will speak at Tech Tea Time at 4:00 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge on "The Legacy of Columbus: 500 Years of Racism and Resistance. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is supported by the State of Michigan's KIng-Chavez-Parks Initiative.
Thursday, May 4, will feature a brown bag lunch in the Red Metal Room of the Memorial Union. Mexican graduate student Veronica Puente will give a history of pinatas and show how to make them.
The highlight of the week will come Friday, May 5, when a Fiesta Folklorica will be presented in the Memorial Union Commons from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by the musical group Mariachi Cora of Detroit.
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04/26/00-MTN284