By snoadmin
Officially, World AIDS Day was a week ago, but Cal State Long Beach recognized it Wednesday with fortunetelling, condoms and information.
If you were anywhere near Maxson Plaza you were witness to what one student described as, “The biggest condom slanging event I’ve ever seen on campus.”
Tables were piled high with information and goodies, refreshments and snacks were abundant — all in the name of AIDS awareness.
In 2007, 2.5 million new cases of HIV were reported, according to avert.org, a website dedicated to raising money to stop this pandemic. The site also reports that approximately half of all HIV/AIDS cases were diagnosed before age 25 and have a life expectancy of 35 — that’s most of us in the college age level.
The human immunodeficiency virus has been around for more than two decades, yet it continues to spread throughout the world, which is why events like this are important.
Sexual contact is the main road used to spread this virus. Since we will all have sex more than once in our lifetimes, it is important to have continuous safe-sex reminders. That is the purpose behind this day; to give people the tools needed to protect themselves and others.
Giving away free stuff always makes an event seem important, but what made this event more special were the people. Each table housed friendly people eager to pass out handfuls of condoms, to educate and answer all questions.
A fortuneteller was available to read health futures. To peer into the future, you answered a short sexual history questionnaire and walked in. The psychic then revealed your future, which was dependent on your past. Basically, it was a fun way to talk to someone privately about the spread of the disease and what one’s own personal risks might be.
At the end of the “reading,” an opportunity of commitment is offered. If you commit to practicing safe sex, not sharing needles and/or any other activity that might spread HIV, you are awarded a gift bag filled with even more condoms, candy and a $10 gift card from Target.
HIV/AIDS and sex are all difficult subjects to talk about, but events like these invite open conversation. The more we talk about the uncomfortable the more it becomes comfortable. Our society is not at ease with sex. We use it to sell products, but to actually talk about it causes some to squirm.
We have to change the way we think of these things because if we don’t, we will not be able to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
This annual event is a great way to continue the fight against the fatal virus. It reminds us HIV/AIDS is still here and how important it is not to forget about it.
The first line of defense on the forefront of this battle is the individual. We must arm ourselves with information and act accordingly. There must be a daily force pushing us to practice safe sex.
It is vital that every time you have a sexual encounter, protection is used. Getting tested is the only way anyone can be assured they are not at risk. This is a disease that is blind to race, sexual preference and social standing. It can happen to you. It can happen to your brother, sister, cousin or best friend.
Tell the people you love the importance of awareness and protection. It might seem cliché, but when you have sex with somebody, you are also having sex with everybody they ever had sex with.
Thank you CSULB Health Resource Center for making this event fun and informative.
Nothing worst than a splash of facial spunk to cure that AIDS problem.