Students, faculty and staff from the College of Public Health modeled traditional and current clothing styles from a variety of cultures to showcase diversity at the UA and raise funds for student groups.
The Public Health Student Alliance, the Student Diversity Committee and the International Rescue Committee put on the cultural diversity fashion show Friday night between the Pharmacy building and the Roy P. Drachman Hall.
Ada Dieke, a public health graduate student and one of the event’s organizers, said she and other students from the UA attended a global health conference where issues of women’s rights, nutrition and diversity were discussed, when the idea for the show came about.
“”After the conference, a group of us started talking about the concerns we had about diversity at the UA,”” Dieke said. “”We noticed that some students don’t always get the same toleration and respect as others, and we wanted to do something about it.””
Dieke said the fashion show was created to support and celebrate diversity at the UA.
Students and faculty dressed in Indian, Mexican, Pakistani, Chinese, Scottish, Vietnamese, German, hip-hop and other fashions.
Jacob Morrow, a public health graduate student, said he decided to dress as a drag queen for the show.
“”Drag queens were an intrigue force in the gay rights movement in the 1970s,”” Morrow said. “”They symbolize the strive for equality in all aspects.””
Amal Saeed, a public health graduate student, wore a modern version of a traditional Pakistani outfit, with hand-painted detailing on a red chiffon dress and scarf.
Zhao Chen, an associate professor of public health, wore a traditional Chinese garment that represented the art of ancient Chinese wax printing.
Nicole White, a public health graduate student, said the money raised at the event would go to public health student groups.
Ishmail Sillah, a physiology senior, said he thought it was good that the event took place during the first year of the buildings’ opening.
“”It shows that the school is trying to incorporate diversity, and it is very impressive,”” Sillah said. “”I am thinking of doing a master’s in public health and seeing this makes me want to do it more.””
About 60 people attended the event, and Dieke said she hopes the show can become an annual event.
