December 1st is globally recognized as World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic and the spread of HIV, commemorating the numerous victims of the disease and taking action to combat prejudice, ignorance and the massive deadly consequences of the infection.
Here at Pomona, March is known as AIDS/HIV Awareness Month and various campus clubs and organizations have planned events and activities to work for the same causes. Table tents that appeared at Frary on March 1st urge:
Be in the know: Less than 50% of Americans have ever been tested for HIV. One in every five people living with HIV has not even had their infection diagnosed.
What’s happening on campus?
Know your status!
Free anonymous HIV testing will be available every Tuesday of the month, 5-7pm (3/01 and 3/29 HEO; 3/8 Pitzer; 3/22 CMC). Results will be available a week after the testing date at the same time & location.
Grassroots Soccer
Contribute by participating in the INSPI(RED) SOCCER 3v3 Barefoot Tournament happening on March 5th, 2pm-6:30pm @ Scripps Tiernan Field House. Register here. The Tournament is created in partnership with (RED)TM and Grassroots Soccer, an organization that uses the popularity of soccer to increase awareness, education and mobilization in the fight against AIDS/HIV. Grassroots Soccer will use all proceeds raised through the event to organize a day of soccer camp and access to HIV education, testing and treatment for youth in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and a few other African countries.
Movies
A Closer Walk – March 2, 7PM @ Scripps Motley
Completed in December 2002, A Closer Walk is the first film to depict humankind’s confrontation with the global AIDS epidemic. The film’s director and producer, Robert Bilheimer, is an Academy Award nominee for his film Cry of Reason, a profile of the South African anti-apartheid leader Beyers Naude. A Closer Walk was conceived with the late Jonathan Mann, architect of the World Health Organization’s response to global AIDS. (www.acloserwalk.org)
Philadelphia – March 4, 7PM @ Scripps Dorsey
Philadelphia (1993) is one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and homophobia. It was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme. The film stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. It was inspired by the story of Geoffrey Bowers, an attorney who in 1987 sued the law firm Baker & McKenzie for unfair dismissal in one of the first AIDS discrimination case. (Wikipedia.com)
In Search of a Vaccine – March 9, 7PM @ Scripps Motley
The Other City – March 23, 7PM @ Scripps Motley
A movie about a part of Washington DC that tourists never visit and the mainstream media virtually ignores. At least three percent of DC’s population is HIV positive, a staggering rate higher than parts of Africa. Behind all the stories of heartbreak, loss, and struggle there are also the incredible, encouraging stories of the people behind grassroots movements to extend education, combat stigmas, and spread hope. (Wikipedia.com)
Condom Couture
The 5C Peace and Justice Coalition, in collaboration with other groups on campus, is putting on a Condom Couture event to “wrap up” the month’s events on Thursday, March 31. Condom Couture will be a fashion show fundraiser showcasing original clothes made out of condoms! All donations would benefit FACE AIDS, a student organization whose mission is to fight HIV/AIDS by building a movement of young leaders dedicated to global health, equity and social justice.
Other events
Crepes for a Cause – March 6, 9PM @ GJW Scripps
Michael Kearns Performance – March 25, 7PM @ Scripps Balch Auditorium
Volunteer Day: Foothill AIDS Project – March 26
According to AIDS.gov, a website that uses online social media to increase awareness and testing among high-risk people or people living with HIV, the HIV/AIDS calendar looks like this:
February 7th – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 10th – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 20th – National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
May 18th – HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
May 19th – National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
June 8th – Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
June 27th – National HIV Testing Day
September 27th – National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
October 15th – National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
December 1st – World AIDS Day