Students from the Ball State University chapter of the NAACP brought more awareness of HIV/AIDS in the African American community to campus with the ‘Infrared: HIV/AIDS Awareness Showcase'.
The event, co-sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Alpha Phi Omega fraternities and the Mixx and the Multicultural Center, educated students with statistics of HIV and AIDS in the African American community.
Six acts performed on stage at Pruis Hall Saturday night, showcasing original works such as poetry and song which all related to subjects of HIV, AIDS and relationships.
Proceeds from the showcase and other HIV/AIDS related National Association for the Advancement of Colored People events will go to the Damon House in Indianapolis which serves as a shelter for HIV/AIDS patients.
Students said they were shocked about some of the statistics they learned about during the event.
Senior architecture major Mark Butler said there was one statistic that specifically stood out to him.
"I did not know that AIDS was the second leading cause of death for males between the ages of 35 and 44. I did not know that, I thought it was going to be heart attacks or something that would be number one, but I didn't know AIDS was," Butler said. "So that's a warning signal for anybody, African American or not, to get tested."
Eden South, the president of Ball State's chapter of NAACP said she felt bringing the showcase to campus was important for students in order to help with awareness of the disease.
"People think that [HIV/AIDS] doesn't affect them. Everyone thinks ‘It's not going to happen to me' and they don't realize that it only takes one time to get the virus. A lot of people are careless about having sex unprotected, who they have sex with, not getting people's names. So I think it's important for college students because a lot of times we don't feel like it's going to affect us and all it takes is that one time," South said.
She thinks a lot of younger people don't get tested because they would rather not know their status, but she feels it's important that they do because of the disease's affect on the African American community.
For students who would like to know their status, the NAACP and Gamma Phi Omega sorority will co-sponsor free HIV/AIDS testing on February 25 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center's Orr and Pineshelf rooms from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
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