QSA fashion show: thoughts

it was a chilly thursday night on college ave, precursor to the brief warm day-drinking porch weather, when i was walking to murray hall to cover the QSA’s fashion show. after an attempt to rescue the room that was supposed to be reserved for the event with the debate team, naturally the debate team won. (QSA has always known to be warm and loving while waving their peace flag to other organizations on campus).

at the heart of the organization i found REBECCA PERO, QSA president for the last two years, sporting a beautiful deep blue gown. Rebecca’s smile was the first thing i noticed. i could tell she was a busy person, but she did not seem stressed at any moment of the night. i immediately asked the typical questions, what’s your major, what year are you, and what’s going on in your life. pero studies human resources and gender studies and will be graduating this spring. she created the event to confront the uncomfortable conversation that is body image. the event specifically allows anyone to be a model and show their favorite outfit.

“When you look in magazines, you just do not see people that look like you and that is just not fair.”

pero is an intern for centerplate and started an internship program that works with professors to help professors make their classrooms gender inclusive. rebecca has been thoroughly in touch with RUSA, the center for social justice, and has had a strong impact on the community here at Rutgers. she truly is an inspiration.

the following are just a few of the evening’s models, to express the vibe that was just so warm and apparent:

SIKANDAR DESAI

major: history

year: sophomore

outfit inspiration: english schoolboy

MICHAEL SILVESTRI

major: communications

year: junior

outfit inspiration: edgy rock returns with a 90’s kick.

SARAH HIRSCH

major: spanish major

year: junior