CANYON, Texas — An award-winning poet, a screening of a revamped version of a classic film and more will engage West Texas A&M University students during their third week of class.
WT’s Office of Engaged Citizenship will host Multicultural Week from Sept. 5 to 11, offering students across campus the chance to connect with and learn from each other.
“This week is a great opportunity to celebrate and engage students while promoting cultural understanding and an enriching educational environment,” said Angela Allen, director of WT’s Office for Engaged Citizenship. “It’s an essential part of preparing students for an interconnected world, and it encourages networking and relationship building among student from different cultural backgrounds.”
The week will open with Buffs and Badges, a meet-and-greet opportunity for students and officers from the University Police Department and the Canyon Police Department.
The event, which will run from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Legends Club inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, will offer students the chance to meet and build relationships with local law enforcement officers.
Students will have the chance to find their community during a student organization fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in the JBK commons area. Representatives from many student organizations will be on hand to encourage students to join new groups and discover new connections on campus.
The 2021 remake of “West Side Story” will screen at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Alumni Banquet Hall. Director Steven Spielberg’s new version of the 1961 film stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria in this musical extravaganza.
Finally, poet and author Aaron Abeyta will offer an evening of poetry at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 in the JBK Legacy Hall as part of WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
Abeyta is a Colorado native, professor of English and former mayor of his hometown, Antonito, Colorado. His book “colcha” won the American Book Award and the Colorado Book Award.
“There is no other voice that conjures the sky and keeps count of stars as human migrations, moving, fading, and bursting anew as Abeyta’s,” said Juan Felipe Herrera, the former United States Poet Laureate.
“We are thrilled to welcome this award-winning writer and poet to our campus,” Allen said. “His work delves deep into the realms of culture, people, and the rich history of the American West. This presents a remarkable occasion for both our students and the community to engage, learn and exchange insights with such a distinguished individual. Embracing this opportunity truly exemplifies our commitment to student engagement and holistic learning.”
The event also is sponsored by the WT Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages and the Center for the Study of the American West.
A commitment of being reflective and responsive to the varied needs of the WT community is a key principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021— has raised more than $125 million and will continue through 2025.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.
