Campus Spotlight: AIDS Week Benefit Concert

Kristin McGrath
Kristin McGrath

Free condoms are a nice supplement to any Friday night. If a concert is somehow involved: even better.

A benefit concert at the Gargoyle coordinated by Shanti Parikh’s “AIDS Epidemic” course raised proceeds for two area organizations that serve individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS. Performers included The Hatch, After Dark, The Amateurs and WU Style.

“We’ve noticed people walking by the Gargoyle and looking at our posters,” said senior Jia Jan Fu, a student in the class. “If they pick up condoms, that’s great. If the people who come here think about HIV and AIDS once or twice when they leave the concert-that would be even better.”

The ultimate final exam, the concert was the finale of the class’s World AIDS Week campaign. Throughout the week, the 50 students in the class programmed events surrounding World AIDS week and distributed condoms, candy and information about HIV/AIDS to their fellow students.

“We want people to realize that AIDS is part of the St. Louis community but also part of the WU community,” said senior Anjali Fulambarker. “Even though we might think that we’re not affected by AIDS, we are. We do have fellow students who are infected and we want to raise awareness about that.”

Regardless of the money raised (or his final grade in the class), senior Colin Robinson hoped that the night would have a lasting impact among those who attended.

“Awareness is really how I’m going to measure our success,” said Robinson. “The concert is supposed to be a fun, enjoyable atmosphere. It’s not supposed to be a lot of grim finger shaking. We just want to have some fun and make people think about this issue.”

And while fun was had, seeing the world premier of the Amateurs’ inspiring rendition of the “Boob Fairy” was certainly fun, a table set apart from the stage reminded visitors why they were there. Alongside other artwork created by children infected with the disease, a mirror mounted on cardboard held words of wisdom from an 8-year-old AIDS victim.

“Please look into the mirror,” it said. “No matter how you look, that doesn’t mean you were different.”

Freshman Katie Berg took the stage that night with After Dark. She is dedicated to the issue.

“I just got trained to teach AIDS education to middle school kids,” said Berg.

“The actual disease itself is fascinating to me but really devastating, and I wanted to learn about what I could do to help. It’s a growing problem and it scares me.”

By the time The Hatch was ready to take the stage, the event had drawn quite a crowd.

“Really, I’m just glad to pay $5 for AIDS awareness, come out tonight, and help,” said freshman Marcus Austenfeld. “AIDS is an epidemic in America and we just have to do what we can.”

Also in attendance were representatives of the organizations receiving the concert’s proceeds, Project ARK (AIDS Resources and Knowledge) and the St. Louis based Community Wellness Project.

Tironne Howze of the Community Wellness Project began his involvement with AIDS before many of the concert attendees were born. Then, the disease was still known as GRID (gay-related immunodeficiency disease).

“I was working as a staff psychotherapist, and all of our clients started dying,” said Howze. “This was back in the early ’80s, and no one knew why. Then GRID broke the news.”

For Jessica Forsyth of Project ARK, the advocacy component of the concert was one the most important aspects.

“We need to discuss this issue openly and especially advocate for comprehensive, medically accurate, factually based sexual education for young people,” said Forsyth. “If we don’t have that we’re not going to get anywhere.”

Even with The Hatch still onstage, senior Danielle Silber knew her class’s efforts had been successful.

“I think whenever WU students get together to support a cause that doesn’t necessarily affect them directly, that’s great” said Silber. “Wash. U students are largely privileged, so whenever we get together for any cause that gets us to question what’s going on in the world, that in and of itself is a success.”

Leave a Reply