New UCF Course, Community Lecture Series to Focus on Puerto Rican History
by Chad Binette (cbinette@mail.ucf.edu)

ORLANDO, Aug. 29, 2005 -- A new course at the University of Central Florida and three public events this fall will focus on the dynamic history, culture and economic transformation of Puerto Rico and its residents' migration to the United States.

The class will explore Puerto Rico's status as a commonwealth that is neither an independent nation nor a U.S. state, its relationships with other nations and the island's rapid economic growth during the past several decades. The three public events, including one at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Asociación Borinqueña, will combine lectures about Puerto Rican history with artistic presentations of photographs and music.

Puerto Ricans comprise 11 percent of Orange County's population, according to U.S. Census estimates, and they are taking on more prominent roles in business, government, education and many other aspects of society. Through the new course and public events, UCF's Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Program wants to help students and residents better understand Puerto Rico's culture and history.

"Diversity is an important and valuable asset to our community," said Kathryn Seidel, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Sciences. "Our Puerto Rican friends have made great contributions to Central Florida, and we look forward to recognizing those efforts. We will continue to educate our students and the greater community about the island's history and significance."

The UCF course on the history of Puerto Rico explores the island's struggles with slavery and colonialism in addition to its contemporary history. The course, which has an enrollment of 45 students, also will include sessions about the Puerto Rican experience in the United States.

"Although Puerto Rico, relatively speaking, is a small island, it has had a very rich history," said Luis Martínez-Fernández, director of the Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Program. "In the 1930s, Puerto Rico was one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean. In 40 to 50 years, it became one of Latin America's countries with the highest standard of living."

The three public events that are part of "A Celebration of Puerto Rican History & Culture" will be presented in English. Summaries of the three events are below:

• Friday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m. at Asociación Borinqueña, 1865 Econlockhatchee Trail
  Admission: Free and open to the public
  Lecture: "The Puerto Rican Diaspora: Changing Settlement Patterns and Cultural Identities in the United States" by Jorge Duany, chairman, Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico. Duany's latest book is "The Puerto Rican Nation on the Move: Identities on the Island and in the United States," and he writes a monthly column for El Nuevo Día.
  Music: "Musical genres of Puerto Rico" by the Latin Music Institute's "Rondalla de Orlando" string ensemble, which is directed by Ángel Martinez. The Latin Music Institute is a music education center based in Winter Park.
  Guest of honor: Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernández
  More information: 407-823-1169

• Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Orlando City Hall Overlook Room, 400 S. Orange Ave.
  Admission: Free and open to the public
  Lecture:  University of Puerto Rico history professor Luis Agrait will speak on "Puerto Rico's transformations over the past 50 years." Agrait is a former undersecretary of state.
  Photographs: "Arches and Doors of Puerto Rico," a presentation of photographs taken by Celestino Martínez Lindín, the late father of Luis Martínez-Fernández.
  Guest of honor: Sylvia Cáceras, director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration's Central Florida office
  More information: 407-823-1169

• Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m., Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd.
  Admission: $10
  Lecture: University of Puerto Rico professor Fernando Píco, one of Puerto Rico's most renowned historians, will address "The Challenges and Satisfactions of Writing Puerto Rican History." Píco is the author of "Puerto Rico 1898: The War After The War,"
  Music: A performance of Puerto Rican poet and singer Sylvia Rexach's music by Sharon Riley.
  Guest of honor: State Rep. John Quiñones, R-Kissimmee.
  More information: Call 407-836-8500 for reservations and ticket information.

Major sponsors for the series are Darden Restaurants and the law firm Payas, Payas and Payas. Media sponsors are Al Día Today, El Nuevo Día, La Prensa, WKMG-Channel 6 and Telemundo-Orlando.

Organizations that helped UCF coordinate events include El Nuevo Día, the Latin Music Institute, the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration and the Orange County Hispanic Heritage Celebration Committee. For more information, go to www.cas.ucf.edu/lacls.

Note to reporters: Reporters are invited to cover the "History of Puerto Rico" class taught by Luis-Martínez-Fernández at UCF. The class meets from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and reporters can attend either day this week. Please contact Chad Binette at 407-823-6312 to make arrangements to attend a class.

DATE POSTED
August 29, 2005

CONTACT
Luis Martínez-Fernández
407-823-1169
martfern@mail.ucf.edu

Carey Morales
407-823-1173

Shanon Larimer
History Center
407-836-8595
shanon.larimer
@ocfl.net

DOWNLOADS
(none)

LINKS
UCF Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies Program