AIDS week awakens College community

Author: Kelly Janis

The urgent significance of observances such as World AIDS Week is clear. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, at the end of 2005 there were an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide living with HIV, in addition to the more than 25 million people who have reportedly died of the disease since 1981.

The Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), is one force working to redress these calamities. The group helps to educate and inspire activisim so that such figures recede in the future. In addition, the group "educates and raises awareness about the fight against AIDS on both the local and national level while also spanning fundraising events" as described by co-president Brittany McAdams '09. An integral part of that fight is the flurry of efforts staged on the Middlebury campus in concert with World AIDS Day. The event was established by the World Health Organization in 1988 and observed each year on Dec. 1, in the interest of illuminating the staggering prevalence of HIV/AIDS and urging government agencies, community organizations and individuals to do their part in combating the disease and supporting the search for a cure.

The SGAC does not settle, however, for a mere single day of recognition. Instead, for the past four years, it has translated World AIDS Day into a campus-wide World AIDS Week, celebrated this year from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2.

"World AIDS Week is important for us because it spreads awareness of HIV and AIDS on campus and gives the students a forum in which to talk about the epidemic," said McAdams. "It also addresses an issue that many people connect to third-world countries, specifically the African continent, and in doing so, often forget its harsh influence in the United States. World AIDS Week is hopefully also fun for students," she added.

The week's commemorative events kicked-off in McCardell Bicentennial Hall last Wednesday with "The Biogenetics of HIV/AIDS," a lecture given by Assistant Professor of Biology Jeremy Ward, who is currently researching the identification of the mammalian meiotic mutation with support from the Vermont Genetics Network. According to Ward he sought to cover "the basic biology of HIV, including what type of virus it is, how it infects, how it reproduces and how HIV therapies target various aspects of the viral life cycle."

Like the other events of the week, Ward's lecture had a clearly defined purpose. "AIDS week is a very important event on campus because it keeps the epidemic in the front of people's minds," he stated. "HIV/AIDS is one of the most important (and unfortunately deadly) epidemics humans have ever faced. I participate in AIDS week because to confront the epidemic we need grassroots-level education and activism."

From Thursday through Saturday, the Hepburn Zoo also staged four performances of "The Baltimore Waltz," a 1992 Pulitzer Prize finalist play by Paula Vogel. Caitlin Dennis '07 and Julia Proctor '07 produced the play as a senior work in theatre. It probes the plight of a protagonist with an AIDS-stricken brother. The main character dreams that she is the one wracked by a fictional, incurable disease - in this case, a parody of AIDS, "Acquired Toilet Disorder," which is billed as the fourth leading cause of death in single elementary school teachers. She then embarks upon a final grand tour of Europe with her brother to see the sights, and really, the men.

Thursday also saw the Parton Health Center offer ten free appointments including anonymous, needle-free HIV Testing - results are cited to be 99.8% accurate and available within 20 minutes. The appointments "went within an hour after we sent the email," said McAdams excitedly. "Apparently the Health Center phone was ringing off the hook." So enthusiastic was the student response to the free appointments that the SGAC has decided to devote itself this spring to changing College policy to provide for free HIV testing for all students.

The appointments were made possible on behalf of Vermont CARES, an organization whose mission, according to its website, is "to improve the quality of life, create compassionate communities and prevent the spread of HIV by working with people affected by HIV/AIDS as catalysts for social and individual change."

Friday afternoon, Glen Elder, professor and chair of the geography department at the University of Vermont; Bob Cluss, professor of chemistry and biochemistry; Terje Anderson, founder of Vermont CARES and Alicia Battle, director of health education all met for a panel discussion exploring the local and global impact of AIDS.

World AIDS Week concluded with The Red Party, held at 10 p.m. on Saturday night in the Lower Forest Basement, promising "food, drink, music and merriment in culmination of World AIDS Week events," according to publicity. Prior to the party, McAdams was enthusiastic. "This is our biggest event of the week," she said, "and we really hope it has a great turnout!" The Red Party was indeed a great success, drawing a large crowd over the course of the night and reeling in many gracious donations.

Complementing the week's events was the sale of red AIDS bracelets, both by individuals and in dining halls. While donations are still coming in, proceeds from the bracelets, the Red Party and "The Baltimore Waltz" collectively amounted to $350 in profit.

Proceeds collected at "The Baltimore Waltz" performances will directly benefit the Lesotho Experience Through Service project. From Dec. 5 through the 18, 40 participants from the United States, including Courtney Matson '06.5, will travel to Maseru, Lesotho in Africa to attend seminars, health fairs and leadership conferences with the intent of raising HIV awareness as part of an overarching global outreach initiative.

All remaining proceeds will go to Vermont CARES, the state's largest local advocate for HIV awareness and prevention. As stated on its website, CARES "envisions a world of compassionate neighborhoods where people live free of the stigma, poverty and oppression associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and where the people of Vermont make informed decisions about HIV prevention, services and treatment; and where there isn't a need for Vermont CARES."