Event encourages minorities to donate bone marrow

The Asian American Association’s Fashion Show did not draw the number of people organizers were hoping for Friday night, and it faced a number of technical difficulties. Despite this, the show offered a mix of talent and entertainment for its small audience.

The Willkie Auditorium was packed with enough chairs to seat the 200 people expected at the Fashion Show, which is more like a talent show featuring IU students and Asian American Association members. But even after delaying the show for 30 minutes in hopes that a larger crowd would turn out, only about 75 people did.

The show also faced problems with sound and music for the performers.

“We had a few technical difficulties with the music and the lighting,” said junior Amy Truong, Asian American Association programming chair.

Emcees Jake Zhang and Elizabeth Uduehi tried to lighten the mood with impromptu beat boxing when the music failed and were met with enthusiasm from the forgiving crowd. Most performers had a group of supporters in the audience to cheer them on.

While there were disappointments, there were also accomplishments. The Asian American Association partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program to recruit minority students to be potential donors. The chance of finding a match for bone marrow increases if donors have the same ethnicity as the receiver. Currently, there are not enough minority donors.

“I think people are out of town for the Purdue-IU game and Thanksgiving,” Truong said. “Our overall attendance was low, so that it affected the number of donors.”

Even with low attendance, the Asian American Association successfully helped 20 students add their names to the donor list.

The show featured a wide range of impressive talent that made up for the mishaps. Marisa Santiago performed a dance to “Come on Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson. She gracefully glided and spun around the stage and finished with a bow.

Other highlights included a break dancing performance by two of the BeatSickMisfits, a sample of the smooth sounds of the Japanese flute played by senior Tyler Fry and the Rhythm and Bamboo “Tinikling” performance by the Filipino Student Association.

The tinikling performers used large bamboo sticks to create rhythms reminiscent of a marching band.

Hip Hop Connexions concluded the talent portion of the show with a hip-popping, body-rolling funk routine.

The final portion of the show was a fashion walk. Models wore authentic attire from different Asian countries, and some models sported modern clothing seen in Asia today.

Asian American Association President Jennifer Chen said these clothes, as well as the hip-hop performances, were part of an attempt to modernize the show.

“We are hoping to take a more modern approach this year,” Chen said.

Some audience members loved the more modern approach, but others were frustrated by the repetitive technical difficulties.

“I liked the hip-hop,” said sophomore Sucharat Tayarachakal. “But I wish (the show) had more organization.”

“I think it could have gone a little smoother,” Truong said. “But, I guess it happens.”