For those U of M students and faculty who won’t make it to the Tigers’ NIT game tonight but are still looking for some entertainment, you’re in luck.
The Black Student Association will hold its Spring 2002 fashion show this evening in the University Center Ballroom at 7 p.m., featuring K-97’s Hypo as the emcee, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude.
U of M student Chaun Cain, a model in past BSA shows, serves as director and said she has put a lot of work into making sure the audience enjoys what they see.
“First and foremost, I want people to come out and enjoy the fashions with an open mind,” Cain said. “They may see something they like and want to buy it.”
This year’s theme, “True Love Reigns,” will feature 40 models (a mixture of males and females of diverse races) in about 50 different outfits. The four scenes include “Purity” (featuring all white outfits), hip-hop and casual wear, swimwear and formal wear, with the clothes coming from nine different stores, including Gadzooks and Eddie Bauer.
The clothes were picked by the models and include name brands such as Eddie Bauer, Tommy Hilfiger, Ecko and Misdemeanor.
Junior biology major Marla Robertson is appearing in her third BSA fashion show. She says the experience has been a good one.
“I believe this is the best group of people I have worked with in a show,” Robertson said. “There are both old and new faces, and it gives me the opportunity to work with different people.”
This is the first fashion show being sponsored by the BSA since the fall of 2000, and its goal is to promote unity and beauty, according to BSA President Misty Blaton.
“We have a variety of models representing different ethnic backgrounds,” Blaton said. “We did that in a way to bring unity among different races through fashion.”
Associate Dean of Minority Affairs and BSA faculty advisor Kevin Carreathers believes the fashion show is an important part of the BSA’s presence on campus.
“It (the BSA fashion show) has historically been one of the major fundraising events for the BSA,” Carreathers said. “It’s one of the events many of our students look forward to attending and participating in.”
Although the fashion show is pitted against tonight’s NIT matchup between the Tigers and UNC-Greensboro at the Pyramid, Carreathers is still looking for a good turnout.
“I think we have enough students to be supportive of both events,” Carreathers said. “This date was set prior to the Tigers receiving an NIT bid, but I think the crowd will be one to be proud of considering the situation.”
This is the first modeling opportunity for Jermaine Mitchell, a junior economics major who said he has taken a lot from the experience.
“I’ve learned a lot and have a better idea of what modeling is about,” Mitchell said. “It’s been a lot of fun and I’m a little nervous. But not as much as I was in the auditions.”
The intermission will feature a children’s segment entitled “Steps to Our Future,” with children modeling clothes recognizing the Pan-Hellenic Greek organizations and the BSA, along with prizes being given out by K-97 FM.
As of Wednesday evening, 150 pre-show tickets had been sold for $7 each, with room enough for 300 total capacity. Tickets are still available at the door for $10.
