A&M International To Host Primavera Conference Mar. 8

The Women's Studies Minor Program at Texas A&M International University in conjunction with Las Mujeres, a Laredo women's organization, will sponsor a weekend of events beginning March 7 to celebrate Women's History Month.

The celebration begins at the Laredo Center for the Arts on Friday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. with the traditional "Brindis a la Mujer." The Brindis, a toast on behalf of women in the United States and Mexico, will be offered by Montserrat Fontes, representing the US, and Claire Joysmith, representing Mexico. Fontes, a Laredo native now living in California, is the author of First Confession and Dream of the Centaur. Joysmith is from Mexico City where she teaches at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. The event is co-sponsored by Las Mujeres and the Laredo Commission for Women.

The 1997 Primavera Conference, co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Minor Program at A&M International and Las Mujeres, will be held at the University's main campus on Saturday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Bullock Hall room 101. Conference fees, including luncheon, are $10 for students and those on a fixed income and $20 for all others.

The theme of this year's Primavera Conference is "Communities of Women/Comunidades de Mujeres." The conference will feature four separate panels examining the role of women as writers, artists, and community activists. Among the featured presenters are Dr. Clara Lomas, Assistant Professor of Spanish at Colorado College and editor of The Rebel; Dr. Beatriz de la Garza, author of The Candy Vendor's Boy and Other Stories; artists Enedina Casarez Vasquez and Patricia Ruiz Bayon; and social activists Tecihtzin, author of Chia, and Sissy Farenthold.

Welcoming participants to the conference will be State Senator Judith Zaffirini. Dr. Alicia S. Sosa, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will deliver the opening plenary.

Keynote luncheon speaker will be well-known political activist Maria Antonita Berriozabal, who will speak about the role of women in politics and in community.

Dr. Diana I. Marinez, Dean of the College of Science and Technology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, will offer the closing plenary, followed by a performance by El Grupo de Danza Coatlicue from Brownsville.

The final event of the celebration will be a "Tardeada" at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8 at the Casa de la Cultura in Nuevo Laredo. The Tardeada will feature conference participants performing readings from their works.

For more information on the 1997 Primavera Conference or other events celebrating Women's History Month, call A&M International Professor Dr. Norma E. Cantu at 326-2529.

University office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu