World AIDS Day Recognized with Week of Events Nov 26-30 at UC San Diego

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Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

The University of California, San Diego’s recognition of World AIDS Day will be expanded into a full week from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30 to focus attention on and raise awareness of the impact that HIV/AIDS has had in the San Diego community.

UC San Diego will sponsor a number of events for this first-of-a kind commemoration of World AIDS Day, which will culminate with the display of three sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 in the Price Center East ballroom. The Quilt is the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. Since 1987, it has continued to reach communities with its messages of remembrance, awareness and hope.

According to Shaun Travers, director of UC San Diego’s LGBT Resource Center, “The events scheduled from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30 will allow the campus honor the spirit of World AIDS Day with a greater impact––we will have more activities, more voices and  more opportunities for education and awareness of HIV/AIDS throughout the entire campus.”

World AIDS Day is officially celebrated on Dec. 1st of every year. The day of recognition was established in 1988 as a means to raise funds, increase awareness, fight prejudice and promote education related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

This year’s events at UC San Diego will feature the theme “Getting to Zero” to reflect the global community efforts needed to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero stigma against those living with HIV/AIDS and zero AIDS-related deaths.

The World AIDS Day week of events at UC San Diego include:

• Monday, Nov. 26 to Friday, Nov. 30, red ribbon distribution––Red ribbons will be distributed under a red ribbon balloon arch on Library Walk throughout the week.
• 1 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27, HIV/AIDS activism performances­­–– Visual arts professor, Anya Gallaccio, and theatre and dance professor, Eric Geiger, and their classes will present final projects on activism in honor of World AIDS Day at Library Walk.
• 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28, stories from young people living with HIV–– At the Muir College Center, there will be stories from people who have been affected by HIV/AIDs including stories from HIV positive young people. The event also is an opportunity for those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS to share their stories as there will be an open microphone.
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29 and Friday, Nov. 30, free HIV testing––The San Diego County Office of Public Health will be providing free, anonymous HIV rapid testing in their Mobile Bus parked on Library Walk. The testing is open to all students, faculty and staff. Testing is done on a walk-in basis, first-come, first serve.
• 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov 30, “Survivors” photography exhibit––On display with the Quilt will be Jae Hansen’s photography exhibit, Survivors. The moving photo series showcases long-term survivors of HIV and AIDS – those who have surpassed a 10-year mark since their original diagnosis and are considered survivors.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30 HIV/AIDS resource fair––This event will include interactive displays and activities that explore the history of HIV/AIDS, its prevalence, and misconceptions. Prevention and HIV testing information also will be available.
• 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, AIDS Quilt display––On display Friday, there will be sections of the Quilt that have been inspired by San Diego organizations and individuals as they have responded to the AIDS crisis, both in the early years of the epidemic and through today. The viewing will be in the Price Center East ballroom.
• 7 to 8 a.m., Friday, Nov. 30, AIDS Memorial Quilt candlelight vigil––In conjunction with the AIDS Quilt display, a morning candlelight vigil will be held for private reflection and remembrance.
• Noon, Friday, Nov. 30, A special carillon performance in honor of World AIDS Day—On the day UC San Diego displays the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the campus’s carillonneur, Scott Paulson, will be playing “live” in the rooftop carillon room at noon. The selections that day will be in memory of those who have passed away from AIDS.
• Noon, Friday, Nov. 30, “Gender-Based Violence and HIV: A Global Health Concern”––This discussion will focus on the HIV epidemic locally and globally, the differences in the epidemic for women and men by world region, how issues of gender-based violence heighten the risk for HIV among women in cross-national settings and what solutions at program and policy levels could improve the situation. The discussion will be facilitated by Anita Raj, a professor of public health and medicine at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine.

Information regarding all of the World AIDS Day activities at UC San Diego can be found at: worldAIDSday.ucsd.edu.