Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month
JOIN US FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28-FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
OFRENDA DEL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
Connelly Center Patio
The Villanova community is invited to participate by placing an object on the ofrenda to honor their deceased loved one.
Hosted by the Office for Mission and Ministry
Co-sponsored by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Cultural Studies, LASO, Hispanic Society and CASA
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
1:30 p.m.
Connelly Center Patio
El Día del los Muertos remembers and honors family and friends who have passed away. Join us to share food and stories of loved ones.
Hosted by the Office for Mission and Ministry
Co-sponsored by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Cultural Studies, LASO, Hispanic Society and CASA
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7
TILTING THE CAMERA AT WINDMILLS: ATTRACTIONAL CINEMA AND THE DON QUIXOTE FILM
4 p.m.
Speakers' Corner, Falvey Library
Hosted by Falvey Library and the Department of Spanish
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
CONVERSATION WITH FASHION DESIGNER JULIETA ZAVALA
2:30-3:45 p.m.
Dougherty West Lounge
Hosted by the Latin American Studies Program
Co-sponsored by the Department of Spanish
SOMOS VILLANOVA
SOMOS VILLANOVA helps connect Hispanic/Latine faculty and staff to build community through identity. Learn more by visiting our website!
PAST EVENTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
FROM HAVANA TO VILLANOVA: THE HISTORY OF VILLANOVA CUBAN STUDENTS FROM 1842-1900
An exhibit curated by Gi Mastroddi '25 CLAS, community archiving intern; see sidebar for more
Falvey Library Speaker's Corner
Hosted by Falvey Library
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
LALSA HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TACO TRUCK KICK-OFF
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Law School Lawn
Hosted by Villanova Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
LIVE SALSA & CUMBIA: GUACHINANGOS IN CONCERT
5:30 p.m.
Connelly Cinema
Hosted by Latin American Studies and the Department of Spanish
Co-sponsored by the Center for Inclusive Education, Office of Belonging and Inclusion and Office for Mission and Ministry
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
LASO TACO NIGHT
6:30 p.m.
Corr Hall, Rooms 109 and 115
Hosted by LASO
Co-sponsored by Inclusion Week
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
HORA DEL CAFECITO
2 p.m.
Corr Hall, Room 115
Hosted by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
CHURROS Y CHOCOLATE
6-8 p.m.
Mendel Field Fire Pits
Hosted by UNITAS BIPOC
Co-sponsored by EMM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER SERIES: Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month
3 p.m.
Smith Performance Lab at the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts
Hosted by VSB ODEI
Co-sponsored by CASA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HISPANIC/LATINE?
6-7:30 p.m.
Corr Hall, Room 109
Hosted by ACT
Co-sponsored by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
SALSA NIGHT
7:30-9:30 p.m.
Dougherty East Lounge
Hosted by the Department of Spanish, Spanish Club, Falvey Library, Hispanic Society and Program in Latin American Studies
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22
VOICES FROM THE BORDER: IMMIGRATION STORIES, CHALLENGES AND POLITICS
5 p.m.
Bartley Hall, Room 1011 (PwC Auditorium)
Hosted by the Department of Political Science and the Office of Mission and Ministry's Hispanic/Latine Ministry and Center for Peace and Justice
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
STUDENT POSTERS ON INDIGENOUS SUSTAINABILITY IN YUCATAN
2-3 p.m.
Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies, Garey Hall
Hosted by Latin American Studies (LAS), Department of Spanish, Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies (GIS)
VILLANOVA'S CONNECTION TO CUBA: ON DISPLAY AT FALVEY LIBRARY
The University Archives holds The Historical sketch of the Augustinian monastery, college and mission of St. Thomas of Villanova: Delaware County, Pa. during the first half century of their existence, 1842-1892, compiled by Rev. Thomas C. Middleton, which lists students who attended the University and where they are originally from. It notes a unique history and relationship between Villanova and Cuba, as many students were listed as hailing from Havana, Cuba, not a likely home location for Villanova students at the time—or was it?
Over the summer of 2024, the University Archives’ community archives intern, Gi Mastroddi, ’25 CLAS, did research on understanding more about the relationship between the two places. Looking through student lists, catalogues and commencement records, she was able to count that from Villanova’s opening in 1842 until the beginning of the 20th century, the University saw the enrollment of 47 Cuban students and 35 students from Spanish speaking countries. Mastroddi was also able to piece together that a large influx of Cuban students appeared in the 1897-98 University Catalogue, totaling about 10 new students, most likely due to the Spanish-American War.
Villanova’s relationship with Cuba seems more obvious. Havana was home to a sister Augustinian Order, and later the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, a Catholic university founded in 1946. In 1961, Augustinians at Villaneuva were expelled from Cuba, and the Belle Air yearbooks at the time note that some Augustinians relocated to Villanova. The enrollment of Cuban students reflects a deep connection, with more to be explored.
Mastroddi has curated a small exhibit of her findings, which will be on display at Falvey Library’s Speaker’s Corner through mid-October. We invite the Villanova community to visit!
Above: A page from the 1938 Belle Air yearbook featuring the University's Spanish Club. This is one of the artifacts on display at Falvey Library during Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month.