A lone candle burned defiantly at the conclusion of Greek Week's Educational Forum last night as a reminder of friends lost to the AIDS virus and as a symbol of the hope for a better future.
The single burning candle has become a tradition at Camp Heartland, the nation's largest summer camp for children infected with the AIDS virus. Neil Willenson, the founder of the camp, along with some former campers, counselors and family members, brought their experiences to the Michigan Union last night.
"Some of my fondest childhood memories are from time spent at summer camp," Willenson told the crowd of more than 300 people. "I wanted to give children with AIDS the opportunity to have fun like normal kids."
Some of the money raised during this year's Greek Week will go to "Journey of Hope," a pediatric AIDS awareness organization that sponsors Camp Heartland.
Karen Partee, a steering committee member for the educational forum, said the committee asked the group to speak last night because "AIDS is such a prevalent disease in all age groups and is very relevant to students."
"We thought we could get a lot of support in raising money for the group," Partee said.
Willenson said last night that he got the idea to create the camp while still a student at the University of Wisconsin. Willenson learned that a boy from his hometown was tormented for being HIV-positive.
"I was angered that my community did this to him," Willenson said. "That six parents in a community of 16,000 raised concerns (about his infection) and ruined his young life."
A utopia of sorts for children with HIV/AIDS, the camp has served for the past four years as a forum for victims to share stories and seek advice from others in a similar situation.
"To me, Camp Heartland is another home for me," said camper Berren Jones. "You can basically do anything you want."
Many of the students who attended the forum were moved by the personal nature of the discussion.
"Bringing the kids who have AIDS here was more powerful than reading about it in newspapers or seeing it on TV," said LSA sophomore Sara Hirshon. "It makes it real."
The camp also boasts a staff that is very dedicated to helping infected children and is empathic to their situation. Camp Medical Director Debbie Heartway lost her son Adam to AIDS, and many of her best friends and co-workers share similar backgrounds.
"I promised (Adam) that I would continue his fight and help children who have contracted AIDS," Heartway said. "To my dying day, I will keep that promise."
Some campers spoke about direct ways to prevent contracting the disease.
"All of you have a choice," said14-year-old camper Robert Jones. "We all know what a condom is - there is no excuse not to wear one."
Counselor Andre Lumumba added that if people don't heed the warnings and advice available about AIDS prevention, they may pay the consequences.
"If you get AIDS, AIDS will kick your ass, and if it doesn't, the medication will," Lumumba said. "Believe me, I speak from experience."
Heartway asked that those in attendance look at her son's situation in a manner slightly different from the common interpretation.
"Don't feel bad for Adam because he died per se, but remember that these kids had no choice," Heartway said. "We can end this disease - we all have choices."
Although Willenson has suffered the loss of 20 campers to the virus in Camp Heartland's four-year history, he said he has gained joy from his time helping sick children.
"That's the balance," Willenson said. "Seeing children die, seeing children grow up."
AJA DEKLEVA COHEN/Daily
LSA junior Richard Bauer and eight-year-old Stacey Gates, who is living with AIDS, act during Greek Week's educational forum last night in the Michigan Union.