Plattsburgh welcomes House of Divinity

BY JEREMY BINNING

The House of Divinity has been catching the attention of the campus. The new modeling club just wrapped up its most recent show in which it showcased new clothing designs from various designers from around the school. Justice Hall, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism, created the club this past fall.

The club represents “inspiring beauty across all platforms” as well as encouraging all students to be comfortable in their own skin.

“I really wanted to create a club where people could come and be free to express themselves,” Hall said.

The club is about showing the beauty in everyone and giving them a space to showcase that. “We want to build a modeling club that sets the trends here on campus as well.”

Alumna Kevina Burgess, came back for African Unity’s Mystic Night to help students perfect their walk and give them the extra confidence they need on stage. With their “no one gets rejected” policy, students are likely to join the club and be open to constructive criticism.

Senior Michael Johnson, majoring in broadcast journalism, is the creator of Malosi and had his clothes used for some of the models where he revealed his latest line.

“The club helped me get my brand more out there by having their models wear my clothes,” Johnson said. “It was an unforgettable experience.”

Johnson launched his brand in 2020 and since then has put together numerous lines. “It was great to get this exposure at the event because it was such a big production. The turnout couldn’t have been better for not just me but everyone else who used the platform for their brand.”

Burgess has played a big part in the creation of the club. After graduating last fall with her bachelors in social work, she returned to help organize the first event and also walked the runway.

“I came back because I love modeling, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. So to be able to help put all this together and be a part of it is truly a blessing.” Burgess isn’t new to the modeling world as she has been doing shows since she was in high school and continues to model when given the opportunity.

The club consists of more than 20 models as well as 10 people who are on the e-board. With the club now in full effect, Hall plans on bringing it to new heights.

“We want to expand into a bigger club and travel to other schools and perform with them,” Hall said. To get the club to that level will take some time however, with the success from their most recent show “Mystic Night,” it doesn’t seem out of reach.

The club has two more events lined up for this semester, an art gallery and another fashion show. For anyone interested in becoming a model for House of Divinity email Hall at nhall011@ plattsburgh.edu.

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The women mentioned were mathematicians Ada Lovelace and Katherine Johnson, physicist Angela Clayton, meteorologist Anna Mani, ecologist Rachel Carson, computer scientist Grace Hopper, paleontologist Dawn E. Peterson, astronomer Vera Rubin, aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross, entomologist Maria Sibylla Merrian, engineer Mary Jackson, chemist Mildred Dresshaus, embryologist Rita Levi-Montalcini, mycologist Gloria Lim and geneticist Barbara McClintock.

Theisen ended her presentation with nine book recommendations about powerful women in STEM.

Sunasee then continued his presentation and explained an experience he had at Pittcon Conference and Exposition and how he rarely saw any women listed in their hall of fame. In the “never-ending hallway,” there were two women photographed, only using the equipment of the scientist.

Sunasee followed after her presentation to discuss four present women in STEM careers.

The first woman mentioned was Tu Youyou who is a pharmaceutical chemist. Youyou discovered a traditional cure for malaria and saved millions of lives in South China, Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. She was the first female citizen of the People’s Republic of China to receive a Nobel Prize in any category.

Mae Jemison is an author, doctor, educator, engineer and a NASA Astronaut. Jemison was the first African-American female astronaut and the first African-American woman in space. Among these accomplishments she also served as a medical officer in the Peace Corps and a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Jemison inspired the following woman in STEM, Tiera Guinn Fletcher.

Before graduating from MIT with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, Guinn Fletcher landed her first job at the Space Launch System performing calculations used to understand strength and durability. She is currently a rocket structural engineer and is responsible for building an engine section for an 188,000-pound rocket.

Following Guinn Fletcher was Canadian Physicist Donna Strickland. Strickland won a Nobel Prize in Physics with Mourou and Ashkin in 2018 and is the third woman winner of the award in 55 years. Strickland developed a technique called Chirped Pulse Ampli- fication that is used to target cancer and in corrective laser eye surgery.

At the end of his speech on Strickland, Sunasee wanted to shed light on two women in STEM on this campus that he works closely with, Professor of Biochemistry Dr. Karina Ckless and his wife Scientist and Research Councilor Dr. Usha Hemraz. After the presentation students and staff were encouraged to have refreshments and ask questions.