The Observer, October 6, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 6
625RedBalloons
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While many students associate balloons with celebrations, the red balloons which filled Sears and Nord on Friday, Sept. 29, were placed in the buildings by the Student Global AIDS Campaign to symbolize the 625 new HIV infections contracted per hour worldwide. The Student Global AIDS Campaign, or SGAC, is a student-run group committed to promoting knowledge about HIV and AIDS at Case, started last year by juniors Kathryn Martires and Nilu Khan. According to Martires, SGAC placed the balloons in the two highly-trafficked buildings to remind passersby of the "seriousness of HIV."
The AIDS-awareness events continued into Friday evening, culminating in the Red Party, a social event at Carlton Commons that doubled as an awareness event, where students concerned with AIDS and HIV issues could meet and connect. Martires commented on the crowd in attendance, saying "we tried to bring together lots of different kinds of students, which we did by making connections between our club, FMLA, and Case Dems, who co-sponsored with us." Attracted by free food, condoms, and the promise of stimulating conversation, 40 to 50 students showed up.
SGAC's upcoming events include the Dr. John Carey Memorial AIDS Walk on Oct. 7 in University Circle; registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. For more information visit www.cleveland.com/AIDSwalk/
