Texas A&M University-Commerce Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs, Counseling Center, Student Health Services, and ANGLS will be presenting World AIDS Day Dec. 1 to promote global awareness of AIDS.
“I know different groups have done things with regard to World AIDS Day in the past, however this is my first time knowing any programs targeting the day,” Office of Diversity and Cultural Affairs Director Robert Dotson said. “I am working to get publicity up about World AIDS Day.”
There will be information tables set up in the Sam Rayburn Student Center (SRSC) on Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. According to Dotson the booths will be handing out information on HIV, HIV prevention, other sexually transmitted diseases, counseling information, and other health related materials.
There will also be a Diversity in Dialogue panel discussion from 12 to 1:15 p.m. in the Innovation Room of the SRSC. The topic of the discussion is “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Central/South America, Caribbean, and the U.S.”.
“We will also have a Thought Wall where people can write any feelings, thoughts, whatever they feel about the effects that HIV/AIDS has had on them personally or otherwise,” Dotson said. “We will also hand out our red ribbons which symbolize the day.”
Dotson is also attempting to finalize free HIV screenings here on campus. It is tentatively scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the SRSC.
“It is my hope that we have a good turn out at the panel discussion and people coming through the SRSC on the day of and getting information about HIV and AIDS,” Dotson said.