“Get Tested: The Only Thing Worse Than Having AIDS is Not Knowing.”
It’s more than the title of the Nov. 30 movie presentation-it’s the entire concept and attitude lying behind HIV/AIDS Awareness Week at Skyline College.
The Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC) and the Health Center have joined forces to raise awareness on campus about HIV and AIDS. From guest speakers to movie presentations, to more hands-on activities like condom giveaways and HIV testing, students benefited from a multitude of services and resources available from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2.
“The goal is the prevention of the spread of HIV through education,” said Amory Cariadus, coordinator of student activities at Skyline College.
Different parts of the week highlight issues such as the risks of contracting HIV, getting tested for HIV, and AIDS as a racial issue. Cariadus cited information from the San Francisco Aids Foundation as part of the reason events like HIV/AIDS Awareness Week are so important on college campuses.
“Right now, the group of individuals at highest risk to contract HIV, and the greatest number of cases on the rise, are heterosexual women from the ages of 14-23,” Cariadus said. “That means the majority of our students would be in the high risk group.”
The ASSC and the Health Center decorated two bulletin boards in building 2 where students can find informative posters and brochures. Also, activities brought a more human perspective to the issues of AIDS and HIV in which students usually either feel isolated or far-removed from.
Ross Woodall, one of the two speakers at the Nov. 29 forum, added a personal touch to the brochures, posters and handouts around campus when he spoke to the audience about what it is like to live with AIDS.
Student participation is encouraged by teachers like Barbara Lowell, an instructor for health science classes, who gives extra credit for events like HIV testing.
“Some teachers give extra credit, but its not just extra credit, it’s about getting to know more about yourself and your health,” said Donna Elliott, program assistant for the Health Center. “It’s about promoting better habits, being responsible for their health.”
Encouragement from teachers and peers also help to ease students who might otherwise hesitate to take advantage of information and resources.
“I think it’s a really important thing that teachers do this because
it’s very rare people our age will get an HIV test,” said Maria Plurad, a student in one of Lowell’s classes. “This way, we can be motivated to do this.”
Plurad was one of the students in line for the San Mateo County HIV Testing Van on Monday, which offered services during HIV/AIDS Awareness Week. Additionally, the testing van comes about twice a month to the health center.
Events like HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 are only effective if people make an effort to take advantage of them.
“What’s important for college students is attitude. They need to want to get correct information,” said Janice Epp, Skyline human sexuality instructor and professional sexologist. “Peers, friends and parents need to be supportive of risk reduction for it to work.”
Activities such as HIV/AIDS Awareness Week create positive atmospheres for students to find correct information, get support or learn how to be supportive of those in their lives.
“A lot of people probably know people who are HIV positive, some might know it, some might not,” said Cariadus. “This program is for supporting people and helping them find information.”
Local HIV/AIDS Resources- HIV Nightline, 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. 1-800-273-2437- California HIV/AIDS Hotline 1-800-367-2437- Catholic Charities, HIV Food Services (650) 579-7490- San Francisco Project Information, AIDS and HIV Treatment Hotline (415) 558-9051- San Mateo Co. Public Health Dept. AIDS Clinic and Information (650) 573-2385
