AIDS Day takes off

In observation of World AIDS Day, The UCLA AIDS Institute, the
world arts and cultures department, a handful of student
organizations, and many other clubs on campus have collaborated for
the first time to create an all-day, campus-wide program to
emphasize the growth of the fatal infectious disease.

They hope to encourage students and community members to find
out their HIV status.

Edwin Bayrd, executive director for the UCLA AIDS Institute and
one of the coordinators for the event, said there is a grave
“misapprehension” that HIV is only an issue for drug
users and homosexual men.

“It has moved well beyond those risks groups.
Statistically speaking, there are undergraduates at UCLA who are
HIV-positive and don’t know it,” Bayrd said.

Starting at 9 a.m., Wednesday, the sponsoring groups will be
providing a new perspective on AIDS prevention and education
through various performances, exhibitions and discussions taking
place throughout the day.

There will be new events every two hours.

The WAC department has also organized a march from three
different locations on campus with participants showcasing black
T-shirts while displaying posters with alarming statistics about
HIV and AIDS.

“(The march) shows support and solidarity and demonstrates
UCLA students care about what’s going on in the world,”
said Ariel Stevenson, head of the AIDS Awareness Committee under
the Student Welfare Commission.

The campus-wide procession will culminate in Bruin Plaza at noon
where special guests and live entertainment will take place on the
Bruin stage.

In addition to the bright yellow Lance Armstrong “Live
Strong” bracelets many students already sport, UCLA students
can also have the opportunity to accessorize with a new kind of
bracelet on Wednesday.

Launching their yearlong campaign “I Know ““ And
Knowledge is Power,” the UCLA AIDS Institute will be handing
out red elastic bracelets embellished with the saying, “I
know” as a token of recognition for students who receive HIV
testing.

“After the test you get a (wristband) ““ “˜I
Know.’ You have it on all the time, and it will be a
conversation piece,” Bayrd said.

In efforts to de-stigmatize testing, mobile buses providing
free, confidential and immediate HIV testing will also be present
at Bruin Plaza and will be open to the public.

Student groups ranging from the Queer Alliance to UNICEF will
hold a fair in Bruin Plaza informing students about prevention and
various other aspects of AIDS and HIV.

“Our focus is going to be on how Bush has cut funding for
AIDS relief worldwide and is ignoring the problem, believing
Christian values will stop AIDS, but that is not enough,”
said Kristina Doan, president of Bruin Democrats, a group that will
be handing out flyers on the political aspects of the issue.

Other groups such as the Center for Women & Men will be
handing out flyers guiding students to testing resources on and off
campus as well as free condoms.

“This is everyone’s issue, everyone’s concern.
The saddest thing is when I hear, “˜This isn’t something
I need to worry about,'” said Tina Oakland, the
center’s director.

The evening will end with a symposium sponsored by the AIDS
Institute and the Charles R. Williams Project on Sexual Orientation
Law and Public Policy. Panelists will discuss legal issues
concerning AIDS and international affairs regarding the
epidemic.

Though World AIDS Day was observed in the past by the
university, the magnitude of this year’s array of events is
the first of its kind at UCLA.

“We have gone from zero to 60. … This is our
debut,” Bayrd said, anticipating that this program will
become an annual event.

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