By Hannah Martin
Reincarnated newspapers, garbage bags and video tapes took the catwalk by storm at afterHOURS last night for Students for Environmental Action’s (SEA) third green fashion show.
Co-sponsored this year by the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) and Social Change through Peace Games (SCtPG), the K-8 Maurice J. Tobin School in Roxbury will be given the donations to fund SCtPG’s PeaceMaker projects.
Other activist groups on campus joined in the event, and entered models to represent their organization in the fashion show.
SEA treasurer Kristen Bailey said her goal for the fashion show was to raise awareness of environmental issues and get students involved.
“We’re doing it to kind of make people think about what they throw out and whether or not it’s necessary,” she said. “Because things you would normally throw out can be used in ingenious ways.”
Around 8 p.m. a crowd began to mill about tables where student groups were advertising their organizations.
About an hour in, the show began with the jazzy funk jives of the Goosepimp Orchestra. With SEA member and Northeastern alumnus Bob Greel as their bongo-playing front man, the band quickly coaxed the crowd into a dancing frenzy.
“We refer to ourselves as environmental dance funk,” Greel said. “Tonight is like a gospel preacher spreading the word of Mother Nature.”
Greel, with his dark ponytail and large-framed white sunglasses, spoke poetically about the environment as he rattled out rhythm.
“We’re gonna save this world one funk show at a time,” he said.
After a brief set, the models were called to the stage. Greel worked as emcee, addressing each model by name and explaining the recycled materials they wore. A duct tape suit, a styrophome tunic and a plastic bag evening gown, as well as other items, all graced the stage.
After the show, models made announcements about their groups and upcoming events they’re having.
Attendants were also encouraged to make a $5 donation that will fund SCtPG’s PeaceMaker projects.
Executive director of SCtPC Alex Alvanos said the group’s projects involve Northeastern students co-teaching a classroom.
“They’re going to really think of themselves as change agents and take a problem that they see in the community and then address it,” Alvanos said.
Funding is often needed to help these projects along, whether for advertising materials, supplies for a peace walk or money for planting a tree, he said.
Bailey said she wants students to learn how to get the maximum potential out of a material before they trash it.
SEA President Emily Lewis said she was excited to have the SCtPG help out students at the Tobin School and that she hopes some of the PeaceMaker projects are environmentally related.
“We decided we wanted to take more of an education kind of route,” Lewis said. “If we can teach little kids how to recycle when they’re five, it’s better than teaching a 20-year-old to change their habits. We want to get into the schools and do environmental education.”
Lewis said any amount of money the group raises will be worthwhile.
“A little bit makes a difference when you’re talking about buying stuff like colored pencils and construction paper,” she said.
The models said they were eager to promote their ideas and many incorporated some aspect of their organization into their costume.
Models and chemistry majors Victoria Ronga, a freshman, and Jackie O’Neil, a junior, represented the American Chemical Society (ACS), wearing pink and teal dresses made of pillow shams, recycled metal and polystyrene.
“From a chemical perspective it’s really important,” said O’Neil, who is vice president of ACS. “For instance, aluminum can be recycled infinitely and it never loses its qualities.”
In order to use the material, they wore earrings and belts made from recycled aluminum.
Dorothy Scheeline, a middler who represented the Progressive Student Alliance, modeled a skirt made out of Justice for Gender fliers and earrings made of the same buttons – a promotion of a campaign they are working on.
“I’m entirely held together by duct tape right now,” she said. “But I think everyone had a good time, while also promoting recycled goods.”
Lewis said she was confident the fashion show made a difference no matter what the attendance was.
“We just want to make people more aware of what’s going on,” Lewis said. “If 50 people come and 10 decide to turn off the lights when they’re not in the room and recycle their water bottles, then we’ve made a difference. We just want to have some fun and open a few eyes.”
