Robert Solomon / Contributing Writer
The World AIDS Day is a nationally recognized day that commemorates and raises awareness about the AIDS syndrome caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Each year, FIU hosts an event on Tuesday, Dec. 1 to raise awareness about AIDS in the community and last year happened to grab the attention of Local 10 News.
The event this year at FIU-BBC, coordinated by Multicultural Programs and Services and LGBTQA, will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Panther Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We are going to have a resource fair where there will be booths talking about services they provide such as Health Services as well as free HIV testing for students,” said Mario Lara, graduate student for Higher Education and graduate assistant at BBC for LGBTQA.
In addition, Lara informed that there will also be entertainment, a keynote speaker, giveaways and free food.
“There is going to be a student performer as well as a Keynote presentation by Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, professor at FIU who has been funded by the National Institute of Health since 2009, in the Marian Wolf Theatre and there will be t-shirt and bag giveaways and students will be provided with free lunch at the event.”
The event is expected to have at least 200 student participants, just as many as they did last year, according to Lara.
Last year, a quilt was fashioned from smaller pieces of cloth, each symbolizing someone who has died from AIDS related causes, with the help of the student participants.
This year, the quilt will be put up on display for students to observe, but as for the student participants, the event is going to challenge students to think about the theme of the event and what it means to them.
“This year we are pushing for the theme ‘Put a Ribbon on It.’ It tells people that HIV is an infection that hasn’t gone away and is still a problem today,” said Lara. “It means to wear condoms, raise awareness about AIDS and to try and prevent more people from getting it.”
“I believe that this is a good event because it’s reaching out to the community and helping raise awareness, express feelings of sympathy and explaining how it’s okay to have AIDS,” said Sebastian Llamosas, sophomore in mechanical engineering. “The fact that they are giving free HIV testing is beneficial to the community in the sense that it is providing reassurance to people who don’t have the infection and awareness who those who might.”
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