STORY BY MADISON GILDERSLEEVE
At 7 p.m. today on Pomerantz Stage will be filled with half-naked students, wearing only tights or a tank top and covered in body paint.
Drake University’s Phi Delta Epsilon (PhiDE) chapter is hosting their first Anatomy Fashion Show to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. According to their website, Children’s
Miracle Network is an organization focused on increasing funds and awareness for children’s hospitals.
PhiDE is an international medical fraternity with pre-medical chapters that students can carry with them if they go to medical school.
“We have each other as a support group,” said junior Ali Hassan, president of PhiDE and biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major.
The PhiDE chapter was established on Drake’s campus in 2012 and is still trying to gain its footing. Last year was the first year the chapter had their own philanthropy week beyond their customary fundraising.
PhiDE’s usual fundraising activities consist of selling both white t-shirts during street painting and Children’s Miracle balloons and pies during relays. They have also started putting on one big event each year. Last year they held “Feeling Fresh Friday” and offered yoga and musical acts on Dead Day to help students deal with the stress of finals.
“We’re still pretty new on campus,” Hassan said. “So (the fashion show) will probably be the biggest and most fun event we’ve had.”
The idea came from a meeting with the CEO of PhiDE when she brought up this event that other chapters throughout the country have held.
“We thought (the event) was really interesting and a cool way to bring a lot of organizations together for the greater good and bring art and science together,” Hassan said.
Rosemarie Wyn Freymark, a junior biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major and vice-president of finance and philanthropy of PhiDE, agrees with Hassan about the potential the event holds for campus.
“While we’re a smaller school, we have a really talented school with organizations that create really awesome stuff,” Freymark said.
The event has required a lot of work and organization from the chapter members. Freymark has been asking the community for prizes and Hassan has been reaching out to many of the organizations for participation in the event.
PhiDE needs other campus organizations to participate by entering their own models and designs. So far the organizations involved are Delta Gamma, Alpha Delta Pi and Next Course
Food Recovery Network. Each organization is allowed up to two models and will submit a design through a template.
“We will have to approve (the designs) because it has to be anatomically correct and appropriate,” Hassan said. The large intestine and muscular or skeletal system are two examples of the body systems that are often painted on the models.
The organizations are provided a tank top and tights to paint on for the models walking in the show. That is what they will wear on the day of the show and then the organizations will paint different anatomical structures on their models, Hassan said.
One of PhiDE’s own models, junior biochemistry and molecular biology major Lindsey Colling, has mixed feelings about walking in the fashion show.
“I’m excited but nervous,” Colling said. “I thought it would be a fun way to participate and to help Children’s Miracle Network.”
The audience will also play a key role in the success of the event.
The winning model of the fashion show is determined by the amount of money the audience donates to that model. The organization with the winning model will win a gift card package to local businesses such as Fernando’s Mexican Grill and Drake Diner.
“Our primary goal is to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network,” Freymark said. “Children’s Miracle Network runs solely on funds and relies on organizations like us to raise money for them.”
PhiDE also want to spread awareness that they exist since they are relatively new on campus.
Hassan also sees a bigger purpose to the fashion show.
“We want to combine the art and science world and bring a lot of awareness to the children who face disease on a daily basis.”
The event will be held from 6 p.m. tonight to 8 p.m. April 1 at Pomerantz Stage with the fashion show beginning at 7 p.m.
There is no charge for admission but the audience is encouraged to vote for favorite models by donating with cash. Before and after the fashion show there will be face painting, henna and an art sale for an additonal cost.
