AIDS month observed

AIDS is a modern-day plague which does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or creed. February, which has been named HIV-AIDS Awareness Month, will be dedicated to helping University students cope with the effects of this epidemic. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance, in cooperation with Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health, has planned a variety of events throughout the month -- dubbed "Life, Liberty and Latex." The activities are intended to promote awareness among students about AIDS and what can be done to prevent its spread, according to Kurt Conklin, a health educator at Student Health Service. The ResNet Movie Channel will be showing films about AIDS and its effects, including Philadelphia, and the HBO drama And The Band Played On. Conklin said Philadelphia is the film which people most readily associate with the AIDS epidemic. "Part of the purpose of Awareness Month is to let people know there are other films beside Philadelphia," he said. The LGBA will also be showing several less well-known films in Houston Hall such as the German A Virus Knows No Morals and the American Longtime Companion. College of General Studies junior Anthony Putz, chairperson of the LGBA, said the films were selected in order to educate people about the nature of the virus and its consequences. "It's not the best way[to educate], but it's one way," he said. In addition to the movies, a panel of speakers with HIV will be talking about their experiences living with the virus. This event will take place on Monday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ben Franklin Room in Houston Hall. On Feb. 13, FLASH members and others in the University community will participate in an open reading of works by or about people with HIV/AIDS. This event will be held in Houston Hall in the Hall of Flags at 11:30 p.m. For students interested in learning about safe-sex techniques, the LGBA and FLASH will sponsor a workshop entitled "Safer Sex Practices and Dating Skills" at the end of February. LGBA members will also be distributing condoms at various points on the University campus on Valentine's Day. Conklin said one reason for these events is that AIDS is spreading most rapidly among heterosexual students. "On campuses, I believe the risk of infection is rising for straight people," he said. "As long as people believe it's a problem solely in the gay/bisexual community?most heterosexual students won't get counseled or tested." He added that students do not make regular use of safe-sex practices. "They make use of safe-sex techniques, but not consistently," he said. "That's one of the reasons we put a lot of effort into peer education. In our experience, peer educators are most effective at hammering home the message that safer sex works."

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