AIDS awareness week kicks off

By James Restivo

Daily Staff Reporter

Student groups and community members are continuing their efforts to educate campus as AIDS Awareness Week kicks off today.

"Students on this campus feel that they are invincible," said Pamela Inbasekaranm, chairwoman of the campus AIDS 2000 organization. "We need to raise the awareness now to increase consciousness throughout adulthood." AIDS Awareness Week fall in conjunction with World AIDS Day on Friday.

One of the main aims of the week is to increase knowledge about the disease. Polly Paulson, sexual health education coordinator at University Health Service, said the week is an important way to educate and inform students about methods to control the spread of HIV.

"Our goal is around the area of prevention," Paulson said. "It is important for students to get information on the prevention and protection in a timely fashion before its too late."

As part of the week, UHS will be giving free oral AIDS testing in the Pond Room of the Michigan Union tomorrow for students unsure if they have contracted the disease. Other events include a seminar on HIV and AIDS in India, and a showing of the film "Jeffrey" on Thursday.

Students who want to remember those who have succumbed to the illness can help make a memorial quilt at the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs in the Union on Friday at 3 p.m.

Kelly Garrett, LGBT coordinator of programs and development said the events of the week should be useful for all students.

"There is a strong hope that this week benefits everyone," Garrett said. "Many people in our community are directly affected and those who aren't will be someday, be it a friend or a family member." The week is pertinent for students from all walks of life, regardless of whether they have been affected or not.

In addition, the week includes events to raise money in support of AIDS and HIV charities.

The fund-raising includes a can-drive for the HIV/AIDS Resource Center tomorrow, as well as a game where students can guess the number of condoms in a jar. That event benefits Simon House, a shelter in Detroit for infected women and children.

To close the week on Saturday organizers plan to hold a charity ball to support Camp Rainbear, a summer camp for children with the disease. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or through the Michigan Union Ticket Office. Last year, the event raised about $3,000, which they hope to match or even surpass this year, Inbasekaranm said.

AIDS Awareness week at the University began in 1987, and continues to grow student support, Paulson said.

"Students are very knowledgeable and educated," Paulson said. "This year students have taken the initiative to organize the majority of the events and there is stronger student involvement all around."

UHS estimates less than one-half of 1 percent of students on campus are affected with HIV or AIDS, which Paulson said "is typical for most major universities." The goal is that this number is reduced through awareness and prevention, Paulson said.

The week begins tonight at 7 p.m. at an open forum at the Union's U-Club, where students can speak and share their feelings about the disease through poetry, music and dance.