Festivities honor loved ones

By Satcey DeFever, On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, October 29, 1998

In an effort to rpomote unity among Latino organizations and to honor ancestors, La Raza Students Association and Lambda Theta Phi have planned a Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

The celebration of the Day of the Dead will begin today at 3 p.m. in the University Student Union Multipurpose Room where the groups will assemble a pyramid shaped altar.

Cal State Long Beach students and faculty are invited to come and bring their own items to add to the altar, such as a picture or favorite item of a deseased relative, said La Raza president and junior Chicano studies major Salvador Madrigal.

The evening will continue in front of Puvungna, the sacred American Indian site near the Residence Commons, at 5 p.m.

After the remembrance, a group of people holding candles and a banner will walk to the USU Multipurpose Rooms, Madrigal said.

Olga Rubio will present the history of Dia de Los Muertos in Spanish and Susan Luevano-Molina, an assistant librarian, will present teh history in English.

Pablo Martell Santos, a professor at the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo in Mexico, will speak on the Chiapas turmoil, Madrigal said.

Professional Aztec dancers will also be performing at the event.