Letter from the Editors We’re convinced that it was fate that the two of us met that first day of New Student Orientation Program. Our awkward first conversation consisted of complimenting each other’s clothes, but a week later, our mutual passion turned into something bigger: Jina wanted to create a campus fashion magazine, and Hoot was born. Started with two starry-eyed freshmen, Hoot has now expanded to over 50 talented staff members, an affiliation with CU Couture (the campus fashion club), and a full-fledged blog and website. We really didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into by initiating this project. Who would have thought that we’d be dashing around Manhattan with sore arms and giant shopping bags, working with television stars like Kelly Killoren Bensimon, and getting in trouble with Public Safety for trying to give Alma Mater purses and scarves? This premier issue of Hoot is a culmination of these new experiences. This issue shines light upon the fashion-savvy, cultured, and intelligent Columbia University community. See “Real Housewife” Kelly Killoren Bensimon (GS ’98) up-close in her Chinatown apartment, learn about Dustin Martin (CC’ 11) and his pursuit as a fashion designer, and share your enthusiasm for blogging with Dan Trepanier (CC ’09). We thank everyone who took a chance and took us seriously when we undertook this project: CUarts Gatsby Foundation for giving us a grant when everyone else rejected our funding proposals, Charles and Maricela Cooperberg for the extremely helpful donation, Amy Astley for sharing some of her Teen Vogue spark with us, Jennifer Nam for teaching us how to create high definition makeup, Betsy Mullinix for giving us styling tips, Jeffrey Zhang for shooting and retouching three spreads in spite of his busy schedule, and Martin I. Klein for drafting our legal documents. And of course, thank you so much to everyone who worked on this issue or is featured in this issue—as the founding team of Hoot, we hoped to create something novel on campus and beyond. Have a great summer, and Hoot will come back with richer materials for the Hoot readership to enjoy in the fall. In the meanwhile, keep in touch with us on www.hootmag.org!
With much gratitude,
Noel Duan & Jina Lim Co-Editors in Chief