Cultural celebrations
- Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
- Black History Month
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Programs
- Latino Heritage Month
- MLK Celebration
- Women's History Month
- Hate Crimes Awareness Week
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May is designated by the United States Congress as national Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The initiative began in 1977 with a joint resolution by Congress Representatives Frank Horton (R-NY) and Norman Y. Mineta (D-CA) proclaiming the first 10 days of May as Pacific/Asian Heritage Week. In 1992 President George Bush signed the legislation into law designating May of every year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which the 102nd Congress unanimously approved in the same year.
Since the Loyola academic year typically ends in mid-May, the university celebrates the cultures, contributions and achievements of Asians, Pacific-Islanders and Asian Americans during the month of April. Programs planned recognize and celebrate those of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestry that have made contributions to enrich the history and culture of our country.
Planning for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month begins at the beginning of the second semester. Contact James Jansen at jjanse1@luc.edu for information about how to get involved.
Black History Month
Since 1976, February has been recognized in America as Black History Month to celebrate the contributions of African Americans in our society and the world. Originally established as Negro History Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the celebration began in order to bring national attention to the contributions of African Americans throughout American history. Woodson, whose parents were former slaves in the South, changed the consciousness of people regarding the true and positive place of "Black Americans" in history books. He founded the Journal of Negro History, established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which later became the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. Dr. Woodson chose the month of February to honor the birthdays of two notable Americans who have contributed to the advancement of African Americans in the United States, namely Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Planning for Black History Month begins after fall break. Contact Benjamin Harris at bharri7@luc.edu for information about how to get involved.
Look at BHM 2008. BHM 2007.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Programs
The Department of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs provides outreach and support through to students who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. In the fall, in conjunction with student organizations and other university departments, the Department of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs coordinates GLBTQ Awareness Week, with a series of programs that bring awareness to issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. Contact Kevin Huie at khuie@luc.edu for information.
Look at GLBTQ Awareness Week 2007.
Latino Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a national recognition of the culture, contributions and heritage of Hispanic Americans. The national observance was first established by Public Law 90-498, Approved September 17, 1968, by the 90th Congress. Public Law 90-468 authorized the President to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week each year. On August 17, 1988, the 100th Congress enacted Public Law 100-402, which extended the observance from a week to a month. The annual observance is now a 31-day period from September 15 through October 15.
The September-October period covers a wide range of Independence Days for Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on September 15th. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16th, Chile on September 18th and Belize on September 21st. El Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day) is observed on October 12th.
The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino." Planning for Hispanic Heritage Month begins at the end of the academic year for the upcoming year. Contact Benjamin Harris at bharri7@luc.edu for information about how to get involved.
Look at LHM 2007.
MLK Celebration
Each year, there are celebrations held at both the Water Tower and Lake Shore Campuses centered around the observed holiday. The Annual MLK Luncheon held at the Water Tower Campus has become one of the staple events for this period. For more information about the MLK Celebrations, please contact Kevin Huie at khuie@luc.edu.
Look at MLK 2008.
Women's History Month
As recently as the 1970's, women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the educational curriculum of our schools or in general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration in 1978. After the initiation of similar celebrations within other organizations and school districts, the task force supported an effort to secure a Congressional Resolution declaring a "National Women's History Week." In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution.
In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Each year, programs and activities in schools, workplaces and communities have become more extensive as information and program ideas have been developed and shared.
Planning for Women's History Month begins around the Thanksgiving holiday. Contact Risё Nelson Burrow at rnelsonburrow@luc.edu for information about how to get involved.
Hate Crimes Awareness Week
Started in 2005, Hate Crime Awareness Week (HCAW) is organized around the National Day of Silence (Spring Semester) to honor those who have been silenced due from being victims of violent discrimination. Hate Crime Awareness Week extends the activities to any underrepresented population who faces violent discrimination (i.e., based on sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, etc).
The goals of the week are to provide the Loyola community with an understanding of the discrimination underrepresented groups face in day-to-day life, to educate the Loyola community on actions that can be taken to alleviate violence and stereotypes directed at minority people, and to provide a safe and supporting environment for people of all groups to share discriminatory experiences they may have faced.
Contact Laila Alchaar at lalchaa@luc.edu for more information about how to get involved.