BSU participates in World AIDS Day with awareness activities

Campus organizations cooperate to educate community

Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.

Dec. 6, 1995

By Devlyn Brooks

Last week, several BSU organizations cooperatively sponsored "AIDS Awareness Week" in conjunction with World AIDS Day observed Dec. 1.

The Student Health Service, Lifestyle Educators, United Campus Ministries, the HIV/STD Prevention Project, Alpha Pi Chi and OUT, a gay/lesbian support group, joined forces to provide a week's worth of activities aimed at making the BSU campus more aware of the AIDS epidemic.

Wednesday and Thursday, Lifestyle Educators passed out red ribbons and condom key chains to students in the Union and Walnut Hall. OUT sponsored a movie entitled "People Like Us" at the Upper Deck Wednesday.

Thursday, UCM sponsored a Free University, which dealt with "various AIDS networks that can be sought in various denominations," said Rev. Ken Rowe of UCM. There was also a community forum held for people concerned about HIV and AIDS. Rounding out the week, UCM sponsored a World AIDS Day Ecumenical Worship Service Friday.

Another project that was done last week was the neon signs that were posted around campus that had different facts about AIDS written on them.

Rowe said that the signs were one of the most effective activities done last week.

"I saw people stopping in the hallway to read them. That made me feel good," Rowe said. "People usually just walk by everything that is hanging on the walls."

He also said that he thought the red ribbons that were handed out were a success. He said he saw a lot of people wearing them, and he even saw some people wearing ribbons that they had gotten elsewhere.

This marks the third year that BSU has sponsored an AIDS Awareness Week, and the event seems to grow each year, said Shirley Gilmore, BSU's acting health education coordinator.

"Last year, we had a well-known speaker, which was really a large draw," she said. "And, this year, we sponsored a community forum that turned out great." Gilmore said that more than 50 people attended the forum.

Kristine Kohlgras, a member of Lifestyle Educators who helped pass out ribbons, said she thought that this year's activities reached more students than last year's efforts. This was a positive sign, she added.

"I think it's important that students are involved with AIDS Awareness Week," Kohlgras said. "It's just easier for students to reach students."

Gilmore said plans for next year's AIDS Awareness Week will start coming together sometime in the spring. Any student wishing to participate may contact one of this year's participating organizations.