A Reflection on Una Noche Con/A Night With: Selena

On March 31st, MICCA , The Writing Center @MSU, and Chicano/Latino Studies hosted “Una Noche Con/A Night With: Selena," a viewing of the movie Selena, followed by a discussion panel featuring Dr. Yomaira Figueroa (English, AAAS) Dr. Delia Fernandez (History, CLS), Dr. Maribel Santiago (CITE), and Dr. Dalinda Martinez (HALE), where they discussed the impact Selena had on their identity formation while growing up on the East and West coasts, as well as the Midwest, and South Texas. Approximately sixty people packed the Writing Center for three fun-filled hours, with only one technical difficulty. It’s a tradition we hope to continue every semester.

As a budding Selena scholar, I was more than excited when MICCA member, Nerli, approached me after a meeting about organizing an event to celebrate and remember Selena on the twenty-second anniversary of her death. For the past nine years I’ve been in academia, I have wanted to organize an event to commemorate her life, but wasn’t sure there would be much interest from anyone other than me. I believe I had been waiting for someone like Nerli to remind me that I was not the sole Selena fan, and if you make a flyer and offer free pizza, pop, and popcorn, people will arrive ready to cry, laugh, and share their love for the Tejana icon who has indefinitely left her mark on our lives. Hasta la proxima noche con…

Erin L. Álvarez PhD Student Chicano/Latino Studies University Enrichment Fellow Michigan State University