Students of different disciplines from all around the college joined together for one cause—promoting AIDS awareness. Columbia helped kick off the first Red Dress Party in Chicago by organizing and hosting a fashion show to preview the national event, scheduled to take place later this month. The national and annually held event raises money and heightens the understanding of AIDS and HIV in the world. The event was held on March 29 at the 619 S. Wabash Building in preparation for the main event on April 16 at 525 W. Monroe St.

There were 14 participating student designers chosen through an audition. The final decisions for whose work would be featured were made by Jacobsen and the president of the PRSAA, Lauren Hadeed. The four guest judges at the fashion show voted on who would win the competition. The first, second and third place winners were Amy Hilber, Chloe Flora and Russell Yost, all junior fashion design majors.

The dress judges for the event included Candace Jordan, former Playboy model and judge of the event, and Kevin Aeh, editor at Time Out Chicago magazine. Jacobsen said she was proud of how many Columbia students and faculty came to the event.

The winning students will have their dresses displayed in a window at the 900 North Michigan Ave. Shops. The designers also won various gift cards, and the first place contestant received an iPod Nano courtesy of Columbia’s Computer Store.