OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi hosts several events Tuesday (Dec. 3) marking World AIDS Day.
An education, awareness and red ribbon rally kicks things off beginning at 10 a.m. on the Student Union Plaza. An HIV survivor and activists will gather in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory at 4 p.m. to lead a panel discussion, which will be followed by a reception.
A 6 p.m. candlelight vigil at Silver Pond concludes the day’s activities. Those wishing to attend the vigil are asked to gather in from of the Student Union and walk together to the pond.
“This event is important because over the past several years, HIV has not been a focal point in the eye of the media,” said T. Davis, UM health educator. “Yet the disease is still an issue, and people age 13-29 accounted for 39 percent of all new HIV infections in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control. With college students falling in this age bracket, it is important to keep HIV in the limelight.”
The events – sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the Dean of Students Office, Office of Health Promotion, the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies and the UM Pride Network – are free and open to the public.
World AIDS Day is held Dec. 1 each year. The observance is designed to unite people worldwide in the fight against HIV and AIDS and to show support for people living with the disease. It also serves to remember those who have died from the disease. The first observance was held in 1988.
For more information, contact the UM Office of Health Promotion at 662-915-6543.