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For a rapidly growing population across the globe, Dec. 1 is a day that has significance. World AIDS Day is a time when people everywhere join together and remember those who have been lost to and those who suffered from the nondiscriminatory and devastating disease AIDS.
At the University of Maine, students made a special effort Wednesday night, despite wind and rain, to show their support.
The Peer Education Program sponsored a candlelight vigil on the terrace of Fogler Library to remember those affected by AIDS.
Members of Peer Ed also donated the AIDS quilt the group put together with the support of the university community earlier this semester.
“I think this is incredible. AIDS affected the gay community a lot in the ’80s. I think it’s great to see that people have come out to brave this weather to show their support of something that effects so many people in such a horrible way,” said David Kujawa, vice president of Wilde Stein.
Peer Ed works as an information support group for students at the UMaine. Promoting awareness on issues facing college students across the country, Peer Ed provides pamphlets on everything from study habits and stress, to safe sex and STDs. The AIDS quilt was one way for them to raise awareness.
“I think it’s amazing. It brings the university together to help us think globally about issues that effect the world,” said Tamara Hunt, assistant director for Residence Life and Programs and Peer Ed advisor. “To think globally and act locally, this is what Peer Ed has done.”
Dean of Students Robert Dana made the opening remarks at the candlelight vigil.
“Each of us bears a responsibility to use our brain, our capacity and our pen to begin a broad discussion which will affect the transmission of this disease and its impact across the globe,” Dana said.
“We need advocates for the poor and disenfranchised, and better education and prevention. Our students are going to be the leaders who will be able to effect change globally and locally,” Dana said. “The college-educated few have the responsibility to care for the many.”
“It’s our duty to do something for this cause,” said Priyanth Chandrasekar, a UMaine student.
In 1988 the first World AIDS Day was celebrated. Now 26 million have died from it, and over 40 million people across the globe currently suffer from AIDS.
“AIDS is an international crisis and unless we act now in a sustained and thoughtful way, the crisis will only worsen,” Dana said.
“When people hear ‘AIDS-HIV’ they thing of two things: Africa and homosexual men. I feel like people just don’t realize that anyone is at risk,” said Hannah Ives, a member of Peer Ed. “One of the squares that I made said ‘AIDS doesn’t discriminate’. It affects white people as well as people of color … we need to get this issue out in the open.”
“World AIDS Day is really important because it’s a day of remembrance, its a day to show that we all care for all the people who are infected and affected by AIDS,” said Rebecca Woods, a member of Peer Ed.
Peer Ed began the AIDS quilt project at the end of October this fall. For two weeks, members tabled in Memorial Union inviting all students to express themselves and support AIDS awareness by making a quilt square. Members said they got a lot of positive feedback from the university community and have almost eighty squares on the finished quilt.
“The best part of this project to me is … just by us creating this simple quilt we have shown that not only our individual group as peer educators but many other groups around campus care about what’s going on. It’s nice to see our campus come together as a united front for this cause,” Woods said.
Peer Ed donated the UMaine AIDS quilt to Eastern Maine AIDS Network in Bangor.
The Eastern Maine AIDS Network is a private, not-for-profit, community-based organization dedicated through direct service and education to creating a compassionate community for persons living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, according to its Web site.
“It would be a complete waste to leave the quilt in our office to collect dust. EMAN seemed like the perfect place because one, people would see it and two, because of all the great things they do for the community and people with HIV,” said Karen Judkins, a member of Peer Ed.
Jamie Rogers, the community education coordinator of EMAN, received the quilt on behalf of the organization at the candlelight vigil.
“I’d like to extend a challenge to you today. Education is important. I’d like to challenge you to learn as much as you can and go and share that information with one other person,” Rogers said. “Education is where it starts.”
After the candlelight ceremony, participants were invited to gather in the Bangor Room in Memorial Union for the film, “A Closer Walk,” with hot cocoa and desserts.
Sponsored by Peer Ed, Greek Peer Ed and Athletes for Sexual Responsibility, the documentary, narrated by Glenn Close and Will Smith, looked at AIDS in the world today.
“After I viewed the movie for the first time, it made me question a lot of things about who we’re helping and where our money is going. It’s a movie that gives you the facts and it also puts a face on the virus. It’s just something that people should see, to expand horizons and views,” Woods said.
“Acknowledging world AIDS day is a big step. It shows that people do care,” Judkins said. “There isn’t enough funding or attention paid to global AIDS. Condoms are not available, treatment isn’t available, and children are born and die everyday from this disease. It is because the issue is silenced. Fortunately the word is getting out, raising awareness is what Peer Ed is all about.”
