???UB took part in the 20th annual global World AIDS Day one day later than the rest of the country on Tuesday, hoping for more student participation in the educational fair in the Flag Room after the Thanksgiving break
???World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to raise awareness about the global AIDS epidemic.
???The fair, hosted by Sub-Board I (SBI) Health Education, focused on educating people about sexually transmitted diseases through hands-on demonstrations and one-on-one informational sessions at different booths.
???The Flag Room was transformed into a walk-through maze with a variety of educational stations like the "Condom Olympics" in which students were instructed in the proper steps to putting on and taking off a condom.
???Another popular table was the "Cover your Cookie" stand where students personalized their own penis-shaped cookie with frosting and sprinkles.
???John Kessler, a senior finance major, entertained as DJ BossFrost at the event with tunes such as "Sexual Eruption" by Snoop Dogg and "Lollipop" by Lil' Wayne.
???Jake White, a senior health and human services major and intern for SBI Health Education, manned the Men's Health table where he provided surprising information about HIV/AIDS. He explained a random survey of men in Africa found that men who were circumcised were 64 to 68 percent less likely to be infected with HIV.
???Kayla Maryles, events coordinator for SBI Health Education, wanted students to come away with a greater understanding of HIV/AIDS.
???"I just hope that people are more aware of what's going on and how it not just affects others, but it also can affect them," Maryles said.
???Maryles explained that part of making that difference is correcting remarks about AIDS that are really misconceptions rather than facts.
???"Some misconceptions are that people with HIV are all drug users and that they're all gay," Maryles said. "There's a lot of heterosexual people who are infected with HIV as well and there's a lot of people that are infected whether it be through something they didn't know about or didn't do themselves."
???College students should be especially knowledgeable about AIDS. According to SBI Health Education, 1 out of 250 college students nationwide are HIV-positive.
???Apart from World AIDS Day, SBI Health Education also offered free HIV testing in the Student Union.
??? "Unless you have [AIDS], it's not something you're aware of. It's kind of distant in our mind," said Ashley Wiehl, a junior German major.
???Students were impressed with the presentation of the material.
???"It's an entertaining way to educate people about AIDS," said Jerrika Davis, a graduate student in the School of Education.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
