WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Latino Student Council has chosen four films for the Latin American Film Series, which begins Tuesday (Feb. 23).

Fresa y Chocolate is Cuban film detailing the unusual relationship between the flamboyant, educated Diego and the homophobic, pro-revolution David. It was the first Cuban picture to be nominated for best foreign picture at the Academy Awards.

The annual event showcases a variety of Latin American films followed by a guided discussion led by a guest facilitator. All events are free and open to the public.

The films to be shown and facilitators include:

• “Sin Nombre” (Nameless). Feb. 23, 6 p.m. Rawls Hall, Room 1062. Seeking the promise of America, Sayra joins her father on an odyssey toward the hope of a new life. Along the way, she crosses paths with a teenage Mexican gang member, El Casper, who joins them to try to outrun his violent past. Together they have to rely on faith, trust and street smarts if they are to survive. Guest facilitator is Vicky Ortiz, a doctoral student in the Department of Communication.
• “Antes Que Anochezca” (Before Night Falls). March 2, 6 p.m. Beering Hall, Room 2280. Based on the memoir by Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, the film follows the artist’s life and work; from impoverished youth to gay freedom in mid-1950’s Cuba; imprisonment during Castro’s antigay regime; New York City in the 1980s, followed by Arenas’ battle with illness in 1990. Guest facilitator is Dawn Stinchcomb, an assistant professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
• “La Operación” (The Operation). March 30, 6 p.m. Rawls Hall, Room 1062. The documentary highlights the social policy of female sterilization in Puerto Rico, which has the highest rate of sterilization in the world. Guest facilitator is Katherine Toro-Masso of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
• “Fresa y Chocolate” (Strawberry & Chocolate). April 13, 6 p.m. Rawls Hall, Room 1062. This Cuban film details the unusual relationship between the flamboyant, educated Diego and the homophobic, pro-revolution David. Disputed in its own country, this film was the first Cuban picture to be nominated for best foreign picture at the Academy Awards.

The film series is sponsored by the Diversity Resource Office, Latino Alliance, Delta Phi Mu, Delta Pi Rho, Women’s Resource Office, Latin American & Latino Studies Program, MESA, Queer Student Union, Gamma Rho Lambda Sorority, Delta Lambda Phi, the Latino Cultural Center and the Latino Student Council.

The Latino Student Council is composed of representatives of the 15 Latino student organizations on Purdue’s campus. Supported by the Latino Cultural Center, they work to unify Latino organizations on campus and promote collaboration, service and social responsibility.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — From animals to insects and engineering to science, Purdue University’s Spring Fest proves that learning can be fun. The annual family festival takes place 10a to 4p April 18 and 19 on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. The event is free.

A Spring Fest attendee poses with a much, much larger than life grasshopper at last year's event. (Photo from Spring Fest Web site)

“Spring Fest is a fun way to engage with faculty, staff and students through educational activities,” said Danica Kirkpatrick, Spring Fest coordinator. “We have had over 40,000 attendees when the weather cooperates.”

Nine Purdue colleges and schools, Purdue Discovery Park, Purdue Libraries and the Indiana University School of Medicine are sponsoring games and activities.

The 19th annual Entomology Bug Bowl, a popular Spring Fest event, will feature a variety of insect-related activities and food. Cricket spitting and cockroach races again are headline events.

Local celebrities will judge the best insect performances during Bug Bowl Follies, a spoof of the “American Idol” television show. Two Bug Bowl Follies shows are scheduled, at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. April 18, in Fowler Hall. Contestants will perform individually or in groups and show talent that incorporates insects through song, dance or other ways.

Purdue Libraries will celebrate the university’s 140th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 18. Visitors can view an exhibit about university founder John Purdue and Purdue history.

Delta Lambda Phi will feature Construction Madness, where guests can learn how to make structures out of recyclable goods, Kirkpatrick said.

Discovery Park will offer games and activities that demonstrate brain functions, how beetles drink water in the desert, producing electricity with a bike, and much more.

The Purdue College of Agriculture invites festival goers to cheer on their favorite fish at the goldfish races, jump into a game of animal Twister, pet a rabbit, watch a rocket launch and make an Earth Day bracelet.

Among the dozens of other Spring Fest activities planned are Boilermaker Special rides, Physics FunFest, Vet Olympics, spay/neuter demonstration, Purdue Bluegrass Band, sheep shearing and equine treadmill demonstrations, Community Day at the new Grand Prix track and a scavenger hunt.

College of Agriculture departments with activities and displays include Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Botany and Plant Pathology, Entomology, Food Science, Forestry and Natural Resources, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and Youth Development and Agricultural Education.

Other Spring Fest participants include Purdue’s colleges of Science, Consumer and Family Sciences, Education, Liberal Arts, Engineering and Technology; and Purdue’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Krannert School of Management.

“This year Spring Fest will be ‘greener’ with our recycling program and using less paper,” Kirkpatrick said.

Spring Fest will take place regardless of the weather. No pets are allowed.

For more information and a complete list of Spring Fest activities, visit http://www.purdue.edu/springfest or call 1-888-EXT-INFO (398-4636). To download questions for the scavenger hunts on both festival days, visit http://www.ces.purdue.edu/sfest/games/scavenger.html