Pre-Frosh Glimpse the Lighter Side of Cornell

An Ivy League education is usually what attracts many prospective freshman to Cornell University, but on Friday night, the Minority Industrial and Labor Relations Student Organization tried to show what else life on East Hill can offer with the annual MILRSO Fashion Show in Barton Hall. Strutting to popular songs like Akon’s “Smack That” and Rich Boy’s “Throw Some D’s” were students from all classes who modeled clothing from Donna Byrd, Kyjuan Couture and many others along with other student designers in front of an estimated audience of 1,000, comprised of students, faculty and visitors.
Models for the show, entitled, “The Velvet Rope,” were chosen two months beforehand during a Saturday tryout session.
Hosted by Tiffany Brutus ’07 and Jorge Almonte ’07, the fashion show was organized during Diversity Hosting Weekend, an opportunity for prospective minority students to get a closer look inside Cornell beyond academics.
“I liked [the fashion show] a lot,” said prospective freshman and men’s soccer recruit Tyler Sinclair. “When I thought of Cornell, I just thought it would be boring and in the middle of nowhere. It showed that there is more to do than just work at Cornell.”
While the fashion show helps to influence prospective students to enroll at the University, it serves a purpose for the current student body as well.
“The fashion show provides a way for our current students to model and be active outside of the classroom,” said Fabian McNally ’08, MILRSO vice president of student relations. “Also, the student designers have an opportunity to get their work exposed.”
“I did it because I do not do any other student activities,” said Carla Wells ’10. “When I came for DHW last year, I liked it and I thought it would be cool to do it.”
Robert Napolitano ’09 took a few hours every Sunday since mid-February to participate in the show.
“Last year I didn’t even go to the show, but when everybody came back from it they said how good it was. Then I decided it is something I wanted to do this year,” Napolitano said. “It was worth it, I got to meet and work with a bunch of beautiful people … especially the girls who looked good in the swimsuit section.”
Jessica Fortune ’08 was one of the people who modeled in the swimsuit portion of the show.
“I like to model and I had so much fun last year doing it,” Fortune said. “When I saw the show as a pre-freshman, that is what made me want to try out for it, I will keep doing it as long as I am at Cornell.”
Performances by groups including Sabor Latino, Phenom Step Team and Pandora dance troupe were also spread amongst the show.
“It was well put together … [MILRSO] did a lot of stuff to make us really like Cornell,” Sinclair said. “Whoever organized it did a good job.”