Join Forces To Boost Awareness

At the time I, like many Americans, knew very little about the virus that had claimed the career of one of basketball's more prominent figures.

American doctors had discovered the first case of AIDS only a decade earlier and the nation was still struggling to learn about the disease and the retrovirus that causes it, HIV.

It was not until 1993 that the reality of AIDS began to set in for me.

That year, I watched the made-for-tv movie, "The Ryan White Story," about the young Indiana boy who was diagnosed with AIDS when he was 13 years old. White had contracted the disease from Factor Eight, a blood product used to treat hemophilia.

The film also described White's fight against his Kokomo, Ind. community members who tried to keep him from attending public school. The public and legal battle pushed AIDS into the national spotlight and White put a new, young face to the epidemic.

But on April 8, 1990, White lost his battle with AIDS. He was 19 years old.

Eleven years after White's death, AIDS continues to pose a major threat to children and young adults in the United States.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and young adults under the age of 25 make up roughly half of the newly reported HIV cases in the country.

On college campuses, it is estimated that between one in 250 and one in 500 students are affected with HIV.

To put that figure into perspective, if one in 250 of UNC-Chapel Hill's 25,494 students were affected with HIV, there would be about 102 cases of the virus on campus.

Experts say the high prevalence of risky behaviors in college students, including unprotected sex and drug use, are a leading cause for the spread of the disease among the group.

But they also cite a lack of education about AIDS as another factor.

All week long, UNC-system campus groups have worked to raise student awareness on AIDS, including passing out information on how to prevent the spread of the disease and holding discussions on new treatment options.

At East Carolina University, the AIDS Memorial quilt has been on display in the campus' student center since Monday. The quilt, which was begun in San Francisco in 1988, is comprised of panels that family and friends create in remembrance of someone who has died of AIDS.

This afternoon, the UNC-CH Center for Healthy Student Behaviors will wrap up its events by hosting the fourth annual World AIDS Day walk starting at 2 p.m. in Polk Place. Registration for the walk will begin at 1:30 p.m. and free T-shirts will be given to the first 400 participants.

I encourage everyone to join the campus community in rallying against AIDS at the walk. Bring a friend. Maybe two. Prove to everyone that college students are concerned about AIDS and want to become more educated about the disease.

And tomorrow, join millions of people across the globe in observance of World AIDS Day. Thousands of vigils, workshops and marches will be held throughout the day on Saturday under the national theme, "I Care ... Do You? Youth and AIDS in the 21st Century."

Take the time to observe the millions of people that have fought -- and continue to fight -- HIV and AIDS.

Remember Ryan White and how he, despite his many trials, would brighten everyone's day with his infectious grin.

Think of Pedro Zamora, whose battle with AIDS introduced the disease to a new generation through MTV's "The Real World."

And do not forget those who, like 17-year-old AIDS activist Hydeia L. Broadbent, continue to struggle with the disease everyday.

Wear a red ribbon. Take part in one of the many community events planned throughout the area. Or just take a moment of silence to stop and reflect on the role AIDS continues to play in millions of lives.

Ask yourself one question, "Do I care?"

I do. You should too.

Columnist April Bethea can be reached at adbethea@email.unc.edu.