David HartsteinUnder the direction of the “AIDS Epidemic” class, this year’s World AIDS Week activities on campus include a slate of events such as forums on HIV and prisons and a benefit concert to educate students about HIV and AIDS.
According to senior Colin Robinson, a student in the class and one of the four coordinators for the week, one of the main goals of the events is for students to recognize that HIV and AIDS are still an issue not only worldwide, but here in the US as well, where AIDS is not just isolated to poverty-stricken communities.
“Prevention is better than it was 10 years ago, but it still remains a major issue in terms of health care in this country,” Robinson said.
Throughout the week, organizers will be in Mallinckrodt and Wohl handing out free AIDS ribbons, condoms and candy, as well as collecting cans for a food drive.
Other events include a forum in Ursa’s Fireside Wednesday night on prisons and HIV, a candlelight vigil Thursday evening in the Swamp and a benefit concert Friday in the Gargoyle.
Organizers expect the benefit concert to be one of the biggest draws of the week. After Dark, The Amateurs and The Hatch are slated to perform. There will also be speakers at the concert to discuss issues highlighted throughout the week. Concert revenue will be donated to two or three groups.
According to junior Sean Marz, another coordinator for the week, this year’s activities were put together with the help of Wash U HOPE, which is doing much of the advocacy work through events such as Heads Up for Balloons, an event all day today where students will carry black balloons and wear facts about the AIDS epidemic on their clothing.
Marz also stated that the one of the main goals of the class is to take this year’s World AIDS Week theme of women, children and HIV and adapt it to the Washington University community.
“We’re trying to do things that students can relate to,” Marz said. “This motivated us to do a canned food drive all week.”
For students in the “AIDS Epidemic” class, the opportunity to organize and plan an event such as this one is a unique opportunity.
“I wasn’t involved last year, but am participating this year through the class,” said Robinson. “It’s great to have the opportunity to be involved in a public health campaign.”
The AIDS Epidemic class is offered through the anthropology department. Marz noted that the class focuses mostly on international issues in the course readings, but also does field work in the St. Louis community with various AIDS organizations and groups.
According to Professor Shanti Parikh, who teaches the class every fall, the campaign is an integral portion of the course. Students divide into groups and research specific topics-such as testing and prevention-and then incorporate their findings into events held during the week.
“Students take the theory and what they’ve learned in the field and tailor it to their audience,” Parikh said. “This is an example of service learning, where students can bridge the gap between what they’ve learned in the classroom and what they actually do outside of it.”