The Trabant Multipurpose Room looked more like a high-fashion nightclub on Feb. 29. With white bow ties, black top hats, roses, balloons and mocktails, university organizations came together to raise money for the Student Government Association's ONE Campaign.
The university partnered with both the ONE Campaign and Plan USA to create the black and white event intended to help reduce poverty in Africa.
Katie Fleming, HIV/AIDS specialist at Plan USA said the non-profit is an international development organization that works to reduce poverty and focuses on children in developing nations around the world.
Freshman Corrie Bonham, public relations chairperson for the SGA and event coordinator said the ONE Campaign partners with Plan USA because they do not accept financial donations.
Fleming said the ONE Campaign is about getting youths, and Americans involved in global poverty reduction, human rights and about influencing powerful politicians to act.
"The campaign tries to get young people involved in politics," she said.
Bonham said the event had multiple purposes.
"One is really more of an advocacy, where we just want to get the campus involved and really understand what is going on in the world around them," she said.
Bonham said the second purpose is to raise money for SGA's partner, Plan USA.
"All the money we are raising is going to their education program, called the BRIGHT program, for an education initiative in Burkina Faso, in Africa," she said.
Bonham said the event united diverse groups of students on campus.
"As a student government, we are trying to incorporate as many RSOs on campus and trying to bring the whole campus together," she said.
Twelve student organizations contributed to the event. There were performances by Vocal Point, Delaware Repetory Dance Company and the Dark Arts Performing Dance Company, while a fashion show and best-dressed competition was held by UDress magazine. Speeches were given by Plan USA, the organization Jubilee and Ms. Liberia USA.
Jessica Lapidos, president and editor in chief of UDress magazine, said UDress was excited to be a part of the cause.
"SGA approached UDress at the end of last semester with their plans for having a multi-organization event that raises awareness for the ONE campaign," Lapidos said. "We were immediately enthralled with this idea, getting to put on a runway show for such a good cause, and drawing in audiences apart from our own."
The event, which was attended by approximately 500 students and raised more than $1,000 in donations, was not only fun and games. Fleming said she worked to spread awareness about the BRIGHT program and get as many signatures as possible in support of the "Education For All Act." If the act were passed it would provide guidance, development and funding for education in developing countries.
"All of the proceeds from the event will go to an education project called BRIGHT, which helps build schools and teacher training in Burkina Faso, one of the worst countries in the world," Fleming said. "We are trying to empower girls in Burkina Faso and give girls access to quality education."
University student Mamawa Fofano, better known as Miss Liberia USA, lived in Africa for several years and was one of the guest speakers at the event. In her speech Fofano asked students to "help make poverty history."
"This is a worldwide campaign," she said. "It is very important that these issues do not go unheard and unnoticed. I believe when [poverty] affects one, it affects all of us."
Junior Matthew Fendt took the black-and-white fashionable attire written on the invitation literally. He sat with a well-dressed trio, wearing top hats, suits, white gloves and walking canes.
"Since it's an interesting event we decided to go all out," Fendt said. "Go big or go home."
Sitting next to Fendt was his friend Jeff Smith, also a junior. Smith, who demonstrated his skill for spinning his top hat, was chosen as one of the six best-dressed audience members.
"When I heard about the best-dressed competition, I hoped that I would be picked, but I definitely was not expecting this," Smith said. "My heart was pounding and I was trembling the whole time."
Both students said they looked forward the most to the fashion show, which would not have been possible without contributions from seven local boutiques.
"We've seen some people that are pretty snazzy and we are excited to see them walk down the runway," Fendt said.
Lapidos said the runway show featured clothes from Newark advertisers and student models. They picked the models through model searches in Trabant and on Facebook.
"We hope to let the University of Delaware know that UDress is an organization that values not only raising awareness for the ONE campaign, but to further promote diversity on this campus," she said. "After our first annual Fall Fashion Event in 2006, we were told that we had the most diverse event this campus had ever seen, and we didn't even mean to do it. It's just the nature of this organization to involve as many people as possible."
Freshman Janine Mascari also said the fashion show was her favorite part of the event.
"The music was getting everyone excited and I had to try hard not to dance," Mascari said.
The event was also educational. A slideshow centered on Africa played throughout the night with information and quick facts about world poverty and AIDS.
Freshman Ilana Berman said she learned new information from the event.
"It really puts things in perspective since we're starving college students and we're helping people who are starving," Berman said.
After the event, Bonham said she was extremely pleased at how smoothly the night went.
"We were able to bring together nearly a dozen student groups to reach students with a wide variety of interests," she said. "It was fun to see everyone really get into the black-and-white theme and enjoy the mocktails and performances. Plan USA was also able to get a great number of letters signed to get important legislation passed, and I know Kate Fleming was really pleased with the turnout as well."
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