The opening of a Latino art exhibit on Sept. 15 set the stage for National Hispanic Heritage month and the many activities and ceremonies that will accompany this year’s annual celebration.

National Hispanic Heritage month became a nationally recognized event in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan amended a joint resolution, which had previously set aside only a week for the events.

As a result, National Hispanic Heritage Week became National Hispanic Heritage month, stretching from a seven-day event to a full 31 days. The campus celebration though, has been extended to six weeks to allow for more events.

In honor of the national celebration, Sacramento State will host a series of events and festivities for the next five weeks in an effort to expose students to the wealth of diversity and tradition of Mexican Heritage.

Marcos B. Sanchez, director of the College Assistance Migrant Program, said that this year’s celebration would extend an extra week to include a performance by Masters of Mexican Music, a legendary Latino band who dedicate themselves to producing traditional Mexican Music.

Sacramento State began the first week of events on Sept. 15, featuring a combination of sensational art exhibits by Latino artists Fernando Duarte and Galo Paz at the University Library, which will remain open to the public until Oct. 20.

Rhonda Rios-Kravitz, interim director of the Serna Center, which sponsored the event, said Hispanic Heritage Month is just another opportunity outside of their regularly scheduled presentations “to highlight the achievements of Chicano and Latino people in America.”

Following that, The Ambassadors of Comedy, a multicultural comedy group, gave a stellar performance in a free cultural comedy show held Thursday night at the University Union’s Serna Plaza.

The Ambassadors of Comedy based in Los Angeles, feature five comedians — Jeff Hodge, Gerry Bednob, Ron McGhee, Larry Omaha and Georgia Jean who share different cultural backgrounds who come together to produce colorful humor any ethnic group can enjoy.

Dean Sorensen, program director of UNIQUE, said one of greatest highlights students can expect this month are concerts performed by the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Pistol Grips and Los Kung Fu Monkeys, which will be held Sept. 28 in the University Union’s Serna Plaza.

He said these groups are a blend of ska and punk, a less traditional interpretation of Mexican music.

“We’re trying to expose students on campus to all kinds of different cultures that they might not have been exposed to before,” Sorensen said.

Perhaps the most fascinating presentation will include a showing of the film “A Day Without a Mexican” which will include a lecture by director Sergio Arau and his wife and actress Yareli Arizmendi.

The film is an invented story about the struggle that arises when one day 14 million people of Hispanic descent vanish from California. It will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 in the University Union Ballroom.

Students can also look forward to a cultural dance recital, a poetry recital and another comedy show before the celebration’s end.