World AIDS Day at UB

Volunteers used both traditional and nontraditional strategies to attract attention and student participation at World AIDS Day at UB this past Friday.

Featured alongside more sobering poster and slideshow presentations were activities such as an AIDS scavenger hunt, a jellybean-counting contest and sexually transmitted infections (STI) jeopardy.

"The slideshow contains a collage of images of AIDS-related events around the world," said Jessica Kim, a senior biomedical sciences major and volunteer. "All this goes to show that HIV is not only in Africa - anyone is susceptible to it."

The official World AIDS Day is actually Dec. 1. However, since that day fell over the weekend, the AIDS Coalition organizers decided to hold the events a day early to attract more students, according to Kim.

Dede Hofer, the chief organizer, explained that the event was designed to raise awareness about the disease and its global presence.

"We hope to discuss different prevention methods and ways to stay protected through our workshops and interactive educational programs," she said.

The New York State Department of Health opened a temporary HIV testing center on the first floor of the Student Union during the event.

"The tests are free if the student has UB insurance and cost $20 if you have your parents' insurance," Hofer said. "They will be performing the rapid AIDS test. It takes 20 minutes, and no appointments are needed. All results are completely confidential."

Hofer believes a lack of information is a major obstacle to limiting the spread of the AIDS pandemic.

"There is a big stigma surrounding AIDS. A lot of people who have it don't know, and they don't want to know, because they fear that it is a death sentence," Hofer said. "To combat this, we try to provide the correct information about HIV prevention and treatment."

The Wellness Services table featured information about correct condom use and a poster about the prevalence of HIV in the US and around the world.

"The number one reason why a condom breaks is improper use," said Steve Glamcevski, a representative from Wellness Services and senior exercise science major. "Much of the time, it is due to a lack of lubricant. So, at our table we are giving away free condoms and lubricant."

Luritta DuBois, a graduate student studying history, represented Planned Parenthood and provided condoms as well as information about HIV/AIDS, contraception and abortion care.

"Our message to the students is to be aware of your body and know how it functions," DuBois said. "Our goal is to fight ignorance, which leads to problems such as STIs and unplanned pregnancy."

Jasmin Laws, a senior health and human services major and ARTF intern, came to the event to promote awareness about sexual assault and rape.

"Whether we like it or not, rape and sexual assault are a problem in our society," she said. "Students need to know this and know that there is safety in numbers."

World AIDS Day also featured a workshop called "Eroticizing Safer Sex" as well as a "kick-me" sticker campaign in which event volunteers taped papers with HIV information on each other's backs.

"We designed a large variety of activities to keep the participants engaged," Hofer said. "With the 'kick-me' campaign, we adapted a common middle-school prank to send out our message."

Chris Rochevot, a sophomore linguistics major, was educated and entertained by the event.

"I played lifejack - its blackjack, but you play for condoms," he said. "I think that AIDS prevention is an important issue especially because many people do not know how to take care of themselves and not contract the disease."

Steve Dix, a freshman undecided major, felt that the event was especially relevant to college students.

"It's an important concern for everybody in general, not just UB. But since many students are sexually active and the disease is sexually transmitted, it should be of special concern for UB students," Dix said.

Ryan Rogers, a senior biomedical sciences major, agreed.

"We are so far removed from the disease that it is important for us to be reminded that it exists," he said. "HIV awareness is the first step to doing something to stop this disease."