Helping Those in Need, One Show at a Time

11/07/2017 

This year the Caribbean Student Association (CSA) really lived its motto “Oceans divides us, but our culture unities us” with a flashy event that raised money for hurricane relief in the Caribbean.

During its 14th annual fashion and talent show “Music for the Cause” on Nov. 4 in the Corey Union Function Room, organizers broke away from raising money for sickle cell anemia. This year’s show raised more than $2,000 to support Doctors without Borders, an organization that helps deliver emergency medical aid to people affected by conflicts, epidemics and disasters.

“Most members had or knew someone that was affected, so we decided to give back,” said CSA President Miriel Collado, a biomedical science major from East Elmhurst, N.Y. "People have come together in unity because of this devastation."

“I can relate with Doctors without Borders because of hardships that my family is experiencing overseas,” said attendee Lauren Ricks, a freshman sport management major from Laurelton, N.Y.

Ready for their 15 minutes of fame, SUNY Cortland students displayed their talents and fashion on the Function Room stage. From casual to elegant, clothing designers who want to spread their name display their clothing on campus every year. The fashion designers for this year's show were Way Before the Fame and Lev-L-Up.

“Events like these express diversity and culture and bring the community together,” said one attendee that night, Rodney Highsmith, a senior psychology major from Hempstead, N.Y.

“This show does a great job utilizing the Cortland community around culture and highlights another side of campus while teaching the crowd about the Caribbean culture,” commented a SUNY Cortland alumna who returned to her alma mater to attend, Regina Morgan ’11, M ’12 of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Aside from wanting a great way to give back, students were there to support friends displaying couture on stage. Many said they had witnessed a terrific performance and saw great clothing showcased by their peers.

 “I feel a part of the culture when the community comes together and it’s a great form of entertainment from my friends,” said Joel Hernandez, a junior exercise science major from Valley Stream, N.Y.

CSA, one of the largest clubs in Cortland’s Student Voice Office, offers members the opportunity to talk about concerns and interests that they care about. The effect of the hurricanes on the Caribbean was one of the first topics to be discussed this semester.

Prepared by Communications Office writing intern Navita Ramprasad