SEMO TO HOLD AIDS AWARENESS WEEK

AIDS Awareness Week activities will be held at Southeast Missouri State University, Dec. 1-4.

The events are sponsored by the university, the school's AIDS Advisory Committee and the Student Health Action Committee.

"This is the third year that I've been on campus, and each year it seems that there are more and more people that are affected by AIDS," said David Schuessler, AIDS Advisory Committee member and hall director for Myers Hall. "We are trying to do a lot of education this week."

Dec. 1, is World Aids Day. The theme for this year's World Aids Day is "Children Living in a World With AIDS." Information tables will be set up campuswide from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. to distribute information and the traditional red ribbons. In addition, an interfaith candlelight vigil will be held at 5:15 p.m. at Capaha Park Lagoon.

On Dec. 3, Dr. Christina L. Frazier, professor of biology, will deliver a common hour presentation entitled "AIDS 101" from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Dempster Auditorium.

She will describe some of the newest findings about HIV, AIDS and AIDS treatment.

"The studies are showing us that a lot of young people across the nation think that there is an adequate treatment for AIDS, and a lot of people who were practicing safe sex are doing so no longer," Frazier said. "I will talk about the reality of being on some of the treatments, about the `cocktail' and the `morning after pill,' and some of their side effects."

Later that day, the presentation "Friendship in the Age of Aids" will be delivered by T. J. Sullivan and Joel Goldman, two nationally recognized speakers. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in Academic Auditorium.

Finally, the Student Health Action Committee is sponsoring a game of "Sex-Tac-Toe" on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in the University Center third-floor lounge. "Sex-Tac-Toe" is a game similar to tic-tac-toe, designed to educate and inform students about sexual and relationship issues, event organizers said.

AIDS Awareness Week is an annual event designed to educate and inform the public about AIDS. Traditionally, red ribbons are worn throughout the week in remembrance of all those who have been affected by AIDS, organizers said.