To recognize World AIDS Day, which is December 1, 2010, Kent State University at Stark will host numerous informative events and lectures to increase the awareness and understanding of HIV and AIDS. Featured events include a campus presentation by married HIV educators, Shawn and Gwenn, free, private HIV testing and a fundraising party. All on-campus activities will take place at Kent State Stark, located at 6000 Frank Avenue in Jackson Township.

Shawn Decker met Gwenn Barringer and they fell in love. Shawn has HIV. Gwenn doesn’t and they keep it that way. When the two met, they never thought their relationship would be an open book or a tool for HIV education. But that’s exactly what happened when friends encouraged the couple to go public with their healthy attitude toward sexual responsibility. For the last several years, they have spoken on hundreds of campuses, bringing humor and honesty to the sensitive subject of sexual health. Shawn, a hemophiliac, discuses his many years of living with HIV, having been infected through tainted blood products as a child, and the two explain how Gwenn remains HIV negative in their relationship. A good sense of humor is crucial. Although HIV education isn’t normally associated with getting laughs, Shawn and Gwenn have opened eyes and ears with their laid-back approach to discussing sex and deadly serious medical issues. By setting people at ease, they are able to make a genuine connection and relate to a wide variety of audiences.

Administered by the Alliance Health Department, the free HIV testing is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. To ensure privacy, study rooms on the Library’s second floor will be temporarily remodeled to give each person requesting a test an individual room. The test results will be given within 20 minutes and a qualified counselor will be available to discuss the results.
 

Monday, Nov. 29 - Friday, Dec. 3:

• Display of AIDS Memorial Quilt panels in the Campus Center
• Informative literature and free condoms will be available on tables in Main Hall and the Campus Center.
• Bead for Life jewelry items will be on sale during the entire week in the Campus Center. Sales benefit HIV positive or displaced Ugandan women. All proceeds from the jewelry sales are reinvested to fight extreme poverty in the areas of health, affordable housing and sustainable livelihood.          

 
Tuesday, Nov. 30:

• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Free HIV Testing, Library Second Floor
  - Individual, private rooms; results in 20 minutes; counselors available on site
• 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. – The History of HIV/AIDS: Presentation by Dr. Leslie Heaphy, Library Conference Room
• 4 - 5 p.m. – HIV Timeline: Presentation by Bob Meeker of the Red Ribbon Connection, Library Conference Room
• 6 - 8 p.m. – HIV/AIDS Panel Discussion: Main Hall Auditorium
  - Panel members include representatives from area health care profession, educators, counselors/spiritual advisors, those living with HIV/AIDS and their family members     

Wednesday, Dec. 1:

• 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Free HIV Testing, Library Second Floor
  - Individual, private rooms; results in 20 minutes; counselors available on site
• Noon - 1 p.m. – HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction: Presentation by Bob Meeker of the Red Ribbon Connection, Library Conference Room
• 4 - 5 p.m. – A Boy, A Girl, A Virus: HIV Education/Awareness from a Personal Perspective by Shawn Decker and Gwenn Barringer, Main Hall Auditorium
  - A reception will precede the talk at 3:30 p.m. in the Main Hall Auditorium Lobby.

      
Thursday, Dec. 2:

• 3 - 4 p.m. – HIV/AIDS, Global Update: Presentation by Dr. Kim Finer, Library Conference Room
• 6 - 10 p.m. – The RED Party: Fundraising Event, Campus Center
  - Free admission, conversation, music, food and a chance to win gift cards

 
Friday, Dec. 3:

• 2 - 7 p.m. – Stagelights Hair Studio, 3732 Cleveland Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44709, is offering New York Blowout, Haircut or Hand Massage with Polish Change for $10 each service.
  - All proceeds benefit the programs and services of The Red Ribbon Connection.
  - Appointments are preferred.
  - Call 330-493-5000.

For more information on the World AIDS Day events and activities at Kent State Stark, please contact Cynthia Williams at 330-244-3262 or cdwillia@kent.edu.