Condoms and candy canes were an unlikely pair Monday night in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom as the beginning of the holiday season fused with global health concerns.
UF’s recognition of World AIDS Day began with about 200 people attending the Be inspiRED event.
“We’re such a large university, and we have such a diverse student body. HIV doesn’t affect one group of people. It affects everyone,” said Cody Talcott, UF’s LGBTQ Student Affairs director, who donned a red necktie and red AIDS ribbon on his dress shirt.
Multicolored condoms dotted more than 500 chairs at the event as organizations passed out red ribbons, candy canes and more condoms.
The event, which featured dance performances from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Apocalypse Dance Troupe, was designed to educate the audience about the disease that killed more than 2 million children in 2008.
“When it comes to HIV/AIDS, it does not discriminate based on gender, race, sexual orientation, creed, color, nothing,” said Samantha Evans, sexual health educator with GatorWell Health Promotion Services. “Its main goal is to infect and continue to infect.”
And as UF and the rest of The Gator Nation recognize the 21st World AIDS Day today, Evans suggested that UF students critically examine their sexual health as they begin studying for final exams.
“Students should think about their health year-round,” Evans said, as she discussed the daylong increased interest in HIV/AIDS testing on World AIDS Day.
Jaymes Moore started planning for today’s global health observance two years ago.
Moore, a UF graphic design senior, created a visual display that will be showcased at the Student Health Care Center today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Moore described his art as the anti-scare method to AIDS prevention.
“All the statistics and the numbers kind of numb people,” he said.
The 6-foot sculpture, “HI VIS,” which stands for HIV Visual Impact Sculpture, contains more than 200 red condoms and was designed to encourage people to take the condoms to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Although Evans stressed AIDS is still a serious health concern, she said medical advances are improving the quality of life for those infected.
“It has a one-track mind,” Evans said. “If it has a way to infect, it will find it. It’s not unstoppable, but it’s here. It’s present.”
Students who’d like a free HIV test today in the Florida Gym from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. should call 352-392-1161 to schedule an appointment.
