Primavera Conference at A&M International Mar. 3-4

Texas A&M International University will hold the 17th annual "Primavera Conference" at the University Mar 3 - 4.

Primavera will begin with a Poster Exhibit, "Brindis a la Mujer," and reception Friday, Mar. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Room of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library (room 319). Admission is free and open to the public.

The Poster Exhibit, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., will feature the International Women of Hope poster series in Celebration of Women's History Month as well as posters from the University and the Laredo community.

At 7:30 p.m. the Brindis ceremony will begin with a welcome from Laredoan Linda Jennett, the 1992 recipient of the Society of Women Engineers National Award for Outstanding Technical Management.

"Brindis a la Mujer," a toast on behalf of women in the United States and Mexico, will be offered by two women, Montserrat Fontes representing the US, and Maria Eugenia Llamas representing Mexico. A brief reception will follow the Brindis.

Monterrey resident Maria Eugenia Llamas, a renowned performer and writer, travels extensively doing workshops and performing dramatic pieces. Her early work during the golden age of Mexican cinema with such notables as Pedro Infante, earned her the nickname "La Tusita."

Montserrat Fontes, a native Laredoan and noted novelist, comes from California. Her books Dream of the Centaur and First Confession, as well as her successful career as a high school journalism teacher, make her a sought-after speaker.

As part of the Brindis, women named "Pathmakers/Abrecaminos" for their roles in making more opportunities available for Laredo women will be honored by the Texas A&M International University student group Women Advancing Women (WAW). Those selected for the honor include: The late Jovita Ida, State Senator Judith Zaffirini, Mayor Betty Flores, Maria de la Luz Cardenas, Judge Rosaura P. Tijerina, Mary Nell Sanchez, Viola M. Moore, Officer Michelle G. Hinojosa, Judge Elma Teresa Salinas Ender, Pamela R. Juarez, Raquel Valle Senties, Dr. Norma E. Cantu and Captain Annabelle G. Venegas.

After the Brindis, refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by A&M International's Classical Spanish Ballet.

Conference presentations will be held on Saturday, Mar. 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Pellegrino Hall. Conference fees are as follows: free for students, lunch not included; $10 for students, lunch included; and $20 for all others, lunch included.

Themed "Women and Gender Studies on the Border of a New Millennium," Primavera will feature a variety of panel presentations examining issues of women and gender. The schedule is as follows:

8:30 - 9 a.m., Registration, Pellegrino Hall foyer, and Coffee and Pan de dulce, Pellegrino Hall room 101.

9:00 a.m., Welcome from University President Dr. Charles Jennett and Provost Dr. Ray Keck

9:15 - 9:45 a.m., Plenary, "Women's Studies, Gender Studies & Feminist Science Studies: Common Goals, Directions and Issues in the New Millennium" presented by Dr. Katheryn Scantlebury, Secondary Science Education Coordinator, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Pellegrino Hall room 101.

10:00 -11: 15 a.m., Session I A - Gendered Readings, Pellegrino Hall room 106, Carol Brochin, "Mistress Prynne and the Iron Men: Recreated Womanhood in Roland Joffe's Adaptation of The Scarlet Letter," Dr. Jeff Cass, "Edward Said's Out of Place: Flogging and Effeminacy," Dr. Norma Cantu, "Fronteriza Literary Tradition: From Canseco del Valle to Fontes."

Session I B - Women in the International Arena, Pellegrino Hall room 107, Peter Haruna, "The Plight of the African Woman: Reflections on Opportunities for, and Challenges of Working Women in Ghana," Dr. Faridoun Farrokh, "Women and Islamic Fundamentalism: an Update," Dr. Charlotte Chase, "Women in East Central Europe."

11:15 - 11:30 a.m., Break.

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Keynote Address by Montserrat Fontes.

12:15 - 1:00 p.m., Lunch.

1:00 - 2:15 p.m., Session II A - Literature, History, and Religion, Pellegrino Hall room 106, Lisa Flores, "Devotion, Divination, and Defiance in Maria Amparo Escandon's Esperanza's Box of Saints," Mike McIlvain, "The Mystery of Sor Maria de Agreda," Frank Estrada, "The Divine and the Damned: An Analysis of La Malinche and the Virgen de Guadalupe."

Session II B - Media and Women's Issues, Pellegrino Hall room 107, Pat Manning, "Community Activism in Tucson, Arizona: The Transfer Consortium for Research and Action on Gender and Reproductive Health at the Mexico-U.S. Border," Maria Victoria Ruiz, "Transnational Fertility and Infection: The Role of the Border and the Media in Latina AIDS," Josefina Beatriz Longoria, "Como Los Medios Masivos Afectan La Forma en que Percibimos la Realidad."

Session II C - Issues of Labor and Housing, Pellegrino Hall room 201, Dr. Elena Bastida, "Kinship Networks as Social Support Systems for Border Domestic Workers," Dr. Maria Elena Ramos Tovar, "Power Process Differences between Housewives and Employed Women," Rosalia Guerrero, "Women of Las Colonias."

2:15 - 3:30 p.m., Workshop A - Financial Planning, Pellegrino Hall room 106, Dr. Michael Patrick, "Budgeting and Managing Your Money."

Workshop B - Financial Planning, Pellegrino Hall room 107, Dr. Antonio Rodriguez, "Personal Investment: What To Do With Your Savings And Planning For Your Retirement."

Workshop C - Health and Fitness, Pellegrino Hall room 201, Dr. Jeff Cass and Jorge Vergara, "An Introduction to Relaxation, Self-Defense and Diet."

3:30 - 3:45 p.m., Break.

4:00 - 4:45 p.m., Literary Reading and Discussion: Montserrat Fontes, Enedina Vasquez, Genaro Gonzalez

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony, Pellegrino Hall room 101.

For more information, please contact Dr. Norma Cantu at 326-2529. University office hours are 8 .am. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Information may also be secured via email at necantu@tamiu.edu.

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