Play about HIV/AIDS presented in Braden
Diversity Advocacy honors Black History Month with presentation
Philip Lasseigne, Daily Vidette Staff
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Features
In honor of Black History Month, the Office of Diversity Advocacy, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health, will be presenting "What You Don't Know Can Kill You," an informal play on the effect that HIV/AIDS has in the African American community.
The play will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in Braden Auditorium. The presentation is free of charge and open to the general public.
"This presentation is used to build awareness of the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on the African American community," Kelly-Ann Vassell, specialist for diversity advocacy, said. "We are hoping to raise awareness with the student population in general with the different ways that they can contract the disease."
This performance is a part of the university's celebration of Black History Month.
While the play takes place on Wednesday, it is in honor of the next day, Thursday, Feb. 7.
This day is American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
The spread of HIV/AIDS is a serious issue in the African American community. The state of Illinois, as well as the entire country, is seeing a serious spike in the number of new HIV cases in the black community.
"African Americans are among the most disproportionately hit by HIV," Ed Bruner, co-chair of the Illinois HIV prevention Community Planning Group, said. "In Illinois, African Americans make up around 12 to 13 percent of the state's population. However, they make up more than 50 percent of new HIV cases."
"It's a very current topic right now, especially since the majority of new cases are impacting communities of color, with the African American community being one of the communities being impacted," Vassell added.
In addition to the production of the play, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the ISU Office of Diversity Advocacy are offering HIV/AIDS testing all day on Wednesday, with a special incentive for those who are tested. All those who checked that day will be entered in a raffle for a free laptop computer.
The play will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in Braden Auditorium. The presentation is free of charge and open to the general public.
"This presentation is used to build awareness of the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on the African American community," Kelly-Ann Vassell, specialist for diversity advocacy, said. "We are hoping to raise awareness with the student population in general with the different ways that they can contract the disease."
This performance is a part of the university's celebration of Black History Month.
While the play takes place on Wednesday, it is in honor of the next day, Thursday, Feb. 7.
This day is American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
The spread of HIV/AIDS is a serious issue in the African American community. The state of Illinois, as well as the entire country, is seeing a serious spike in the number of new HIV cases in the black community.
"African Americans are among the most disproportionately hit by HIV," Ed Bruner, co-chair of the Illinois HIV prevention Community Planning Group, said. "In Illinois, African Americans make up around 12 to 13 percent of the state's population. However, they make up more than 50 percent of new HIV cases."
"It's a very current topic right now, especially since the majority of new cases are impacting communities of color, with the African American community being one of the communities being impacted," Vassell added.
In addition to the production of the play, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the ISU Office of Diversity Advocacy are offering HIV/AIDS testing all day on Wednesday, with a special incentive for those who are tested. All those who checked that day will be entered in a raffle for a free laptop computer.
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