Memorial Event Aimed at Raising AIDS Awareness

Rosetta Brunner walked into her doctor's office in 1985 for a check-up. At the time, she had no idea she would be diagnosed with AIDS.

Today, Brunner has been living with AIDS for nearly 20 years, and she plans to get married soon.

Brunner, coordinator of the Reach Out Program through the Erie County Department of Health, spoke to students as part of the spring AIDS Memorial in the Student Union Lobby on Monday in hopes of teaching about the dangers of the disease and its preventions.

Brunner said her 20-year survival with the disease is due to having a "positive attitude."

"You can live with it," Brunner said. "People see HIV and AIDS in a certain way presented to them by the media. I want to offer a message of hope and help people."

When Brunner, 45, was diagnosed, she said she was angry at first, but then took responsibility for her actions.

"You have the right to choose and the right to engage," said Brunner. "When it comes, you have to blame yourself. Everyone always wants to blame somebody else. What somebody doesn't have today, they can have tomorrow."

Brunner helped transform the Union into an AIDS education center during the event, which was designed to raise student awareness about the HIV and AIDS viruses.

Though the event had a small student turnout, Brunner urged students passing through the Union to stop and listen.

"We are offering free condoms to students," Brunner said. "We even have flavored ones - cavity- and sugar-free."

Students who attended the memorial also had access to free condoms from the Erie County Department of Health and free HIV screenings provided by Project Reach, a program that provides - according to the project's Web site - HIV testing, education, counseling and support services for drug users and their sexual partners.

Rob Santos, a sophomore media studies major who was one of the few students to attend the event, said the memorial was beneficial for the informational content.

"I learned more about AIDS from this event," Santos said. "It also made me realize that anyone can have it."

The AIDS Memorial also provided an opportunity for students to show their concern for those afflicted with AIDS or HIV, or who have died from AIDS, by signing a memorial book and contributing pieces to the AIDS Coalition memorial quilt.

"We're trying to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, how it's spread and how it affects everyone in our community," said Jennifer Anderson, associate director of Health Education and Human Services, which was one of the event organizers.

UB Health Education and Human Services department, the AIDS Coalition, Planned Parenthood of Buffalo and Erie County, the Erie County Department of Health, and Kaleida Health's Project Reach all sponsored the event.

Anderson said staying informed about HIV and AIDS is the best way for students to avoid acquiring the diseases.

"HIV is definitely preventable and treatable," Anderson said. "If somebody does come down with it, we are open to help anyone who is in need.

Kara Hite, the New Voices campus coordinator from Planned Parenthood of Buffalo and Erie Country, agreed with Anderson.

"It's important to raise awareness for UB students," Hite said. "This is still a problem for young people. The more they know, the better."

According to the Planned Parenthood Web site, New Voices is a program sponsored by the organization to "promote and support" the services Planned Parenthood provides.

Hite said that while abstinence is clearly the best way for students to stay safe, she realizes many students are sexually active.

"If students choose to have sex, it should be protected and be an informed decision," Hite said.