Red lights, expressions of seriousness and a feeling of hope filled the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Thursday evening.
As a way of showing support for victims with HIV/AIDS, Spectrum +â-óGé¼" Ball State University's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight ally association +â-óGé¼" had its first annual theatrical event for World AIDS Day.
"The Red Room" consisted of 12 different acts performed by 12 students. Each act told the story of an individual who had been affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.
"We use real stories from real people to show that this disease is a real life situation," Zac Davis, president of Spectrum, said. "It is important to know that HIV/AIDS does not change an individual as a whole and that you will always be the person you are."
The difficulties of AIDS affects all communities - Ball State, Muncie and global, Davis said. AIDS will claim an estimated 70 million lives in the next 20 years.
Tyler Crain, a Student Government Association representative, retold the story "I Shall Miss Loving Him" by Eric Watts. The story was about how a man did not know how to live without his loved one, who was suffering from AIDS. In the story, the man walked away from so many friends and loved ones as he stood by the side of his lover for more than 20 years.
"People need to know that while HIV/AIDS is serious, it is not a death sentence and that many people live for years," Crain said. "Some people do not know enough about the disease, which causes misunderstanding and judgment. It is not usually intentional; it is just because people are unknowledgeable."
Another act told of a 12-year-old girl who was an orphan. Clare Ford, an Indiana Academy student, retold the story "Kids Talk" by Annie. Annie hoped to find a family that wanted her as a daughter. She was not upset with the man who gave her HIV but with the disease itself because he did not take away her ability to read, write and draw - HIV did.
Ford said AIDS and sex are not things that are talked about, but people need to talk about things that are hard to mention.
Bonnie Adams, a freshman performer in the event, retold the story "It's Her Party!" by Justina Thompson. The story told of a young woman who was sad to see her long-distance phone buddy die. The young woman ensured her friend that women alive will do whatever they could to keep the fight against HIV/AIDS going.
"It should not matter where we live or what color we are, we are all in this together," Adams said.
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