EDITORIAL: Short-sighted cut

The decision to close theThe decision to close theUniversity's on-campus HIVThe decision to close theUniversity's on-campus HIVtest site was made for theThe decision to close theUniversity's on-campus HIVtest site was made for thewrong reason.The decision to close theUniversity's on-campus HIVtest site was made for thewrong reason.___________________________ So we, as students, learn to smell the left-overs in our refrigerators before eating, use condoms when having sex and designate a non-drinker when we go out to bars or fraternity parties. But sometimes we slip. Some of us try drugs, thinking one time won't hurt or get us hooked. Others forget sexual precautions in the heat of the moment. We would like to think we are invincible, and we often find out too late that we're not. Some of us are lucky enough to emerge from a weekend of partying scared, but not permanently scathed. But others come away from a chance encounter or a random hook-up carrying the scar of HIV infection. Even worse, they may not know their status until they've passed the virus on to other sexual partners or even future mates. That's why having a free, anonymous HIV test site on campus is so important: Whether or not one tests positive, having confidential, no-cost testing easily available undoubtedly increases the likelihood that one will get tested. And in the case of one's HIV status, knowing really is half the battle against a most deadly and dreaded disease. The federal government's rationale for cutting the grant that supported our on-campus HIV testing site is that the site was not turning out enough positive results. That's like telling students who took advantage of the site's services that although they (fortunately) are not infected with HIV, their "clean" status means that they don't really need to have a testing center immediately available. What kind of logic is that? AIDS is one of the nation's top public health problems. It strikes many people our age in the prime of their lives, regardless of their sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or educational level, slowly sapping their strength and potential. If we can prevent the spread of AIDS through routine measures like free, confidential and anonymous testing, just blocks away from the dorm or classroom, then why not invest scarce dollars proactively?