Culture Shock in the Making

by Faunda J. Patterson

The African Peoples Organization (APO) is a club on campus, under the umbrella of UMOJA. Each spring semester, APO presents a fashion show in order to raise money and as a form of entertainment before finals week rears its ugly head. Within the school year, APO holds two huge events, the first being KWANZAA in the fall and the other being Culture Shock, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 24th, from 7pm to midnight in the University Center Ballroom. In previous years, APO has had a wonderful turn-out. This year's theme is "Taking it to the Next Level."

Culture Shock has been named thus for two reasons; (1) "in earlier years," as Teela Jimerson, president of APO has stated, "[the fashion show] was also a talent show which provided students the opportunity to show off their talents from their different backgrounds;" and (2) because the clothing worn by many of the models will cause a few gasps at the very least.

According to Professor Marsha Darling, the adviser of APO, and Jimerson, the models rehearse for five hours twice a week where they learn half turns, full turns, positioning on the runway, and how to work with the other models. The designers APO hopes to have in the future are Enyce, Elite, Guess, Gold Teeth, Brooklyn designer, Pela (pronounced pee-lay), Eve's line, Fetish, and Jay-Z's line, RocaWear. The tickets will be $5 for AU students and $7 for non-AU. There will be a DJ, hors d'oeuvres, and other refreshments provided.

Culture shock is an annual APO event. People of all ages attend including Professor Darling, who said that she has been present in the past, and, "stays until sections become risqué." In most years she has been pre-warned about the exposure. As the adviser, it is not a huge moral judgment for Darling. Professor Darling states that she will not allow personal boundaries to spill into what can and cannot be shown.

When asked about having a goal for the models that are involved in the upcoming fashion show, both Jimerson and Darling state that they hope the models will "gain increased confidence and self-esteem." Lastly, Darling hopes that it will be an orderly, peaceful, uplifting, enhancing, and entertaining production. All in all, it is "important, no matter what it is, that APO is respected."