Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
Utah Statesman The
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Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com
THE WORLD AIDS DAY CARNIVAL was held Wednesday in the Ballroom to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. This year’s theme was universal access and human rights. KATELYN BATTLES photo
Mumah: Education key to fight against AIDS By DAN SMITH staff writer
Every year, 119 new cases of AIDS or HIV are reported in Utah according to recent statistics, said World AIDS Day carnival co-organizer Freddy Novoa. Currently, 2,476 individuals in Utah are infected with AIDS and 1,062 are known to have HIV. “World AIDS Day was first celebrated as an event for raising funds, increasing awareness and improving education,” Novoa said. “This year the global theme is universal access and human rights.” Novoa, club president for VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, said he worked with Rica Molet, president of the Black Student Union (BSU), to organize the event, which took place in the TSC Ballroom on Wednesday. Molet said this was the second year VOX and BSU have taken action to promote awareness on campus. “It seems like in Logan there’s not a lot of awareness for very many things in general,”
Novoa said. “So we thought that if we organized something and just made it bigger, we’d start getting some awareness out.” HIV can be transmitted through sex, intravenous drug-use or blood transfusions, he said. The virus attacks the body’s natural defenses, specifically lowering T-cells. When the T-cells fall below a certain point, HIV gives way to AIDS, thereby making the victim more susceptible to diseases such as spinal and lung infections. “Gay, straight, lesbian, whatever kind of sex you’re having, you still got to make sure you’re aware of what’s out there,” said Isaac Furniss, vice president of the Love is for Everyone (LIFE) club. The LIFE club is USU’s gay-straight alliance and advocates for equal rights and safe sex. Furniss said members of LIFE wanted to help with the carnival because HIV and AIDS affect everybody, no matter what demographic they are part of. “I think (the carnival) is a really great way to get a lot of people involved because you’re just kind of casually playing games,” Furniss
said. “You know, ‘Hey, by the way, this is for World AIDS Day, take a condom, use it, be safe, whatever.’” There are an estimated 33.4 million affected individuals with HIV or AIDS in the world, Novoa said, citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He said almost a quarter of the world’s population does not know whether or not they have HIV. Roughly 67 percent of those affected live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Novoa said. “Well, I guess the question is, why should we care here at Utah State University?” said Joyce Mumah, doctoral candidate in sociology. “The truth about it is if part of the world is suffering from HIV and AIDS … it will ultimately impact the whole world.” Mumah said her focus is on female vulnerability to HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Cameroon, where she is from. Mumah is also a member and former vice president of the African Student Association (AFSA). AFSA was another group that played a
Film covers racial issues By MIKE BURNHAM staff writer
film also issued pointed accusations toward American universities, saying that the left USU College Republicans had a “monopoly” on ideas took a swing at American taught at universities, free universities by showing the speech is suppressed and that documentary “Indoctrinate some universities are “cozying U,” Tuesday. The film argues up with terrorists.” that universities are suppressCamp said he believes ing freedom of speech and the film portrayed an accuidea diversity. rate picture of academia in “This was a good video to America. Although he doesn’t have stubelieve the dents realize “A lot of students problem that they are is as bad don’t even realize going to feel at USU, he that this is happening said there offended because they are just is signifiand have to deal cantly less sheep in the herd...” with tough Terry Camp liberal bias issues,” said on campus. Chairman of the USU College “A few Terry Camp, Republicans weeks chairman of the USU ago for College Republicans. “A lot Halloween we set up an of students don’t even real‘Obama graveyard’ to point ize that this is happening out the death of capitalism,” because they are just sheep in Terry said. “I dressed up the herd that form their ideas like the Grim Reaper and I on whatever their professors got called all sorts of names are teaching them. This was like bigot and racist. A lot of to open their eyes a little bit.” people think that just because The film covered an array Utah is a red state that we of topics from racial issues to don’t have any opposition. I the lack of political diversity don’t agree with that stateamong university faculty. The ment.”
Inside This Issue
part in educating and spreading awareness at the carnival. “You need to encourage people to go test. The stigma and discrimination associated with HIV really discourages people from testing,” Mumah said. Helping poor nations by lifting them out of poverty is how the HIV and AIDS epidemic should be tackled, Mumah said. Education is another key strategy for a successful fight against HIV and AIDS, Mumah said. “If you were to go around and take a poll of Utah State students, how many of them can really talk to you about HIV/AIDS?” Mumah said. “They are either uninformed or misinformed about it.” Access and Diversity Center intern Ernest Cooper, Jr. said many people at USU have misconceptions about HIV and AIDS as well as who they can affect. Cooper said he has a family member who is African American and two friends, Hispanic
- See HIV, page 4
Alumni honored for dedication to USU
Five alumni were recognized for the resources and time they have dedicated to the university throughout their lives By ALLIE JEPPSON staff writer
Highlighting the lack of appreciation for different ideas, Camp said a friend of his who attends USU wrote a paper arguing against the existence of global warming. When she turned it in, the professor wouldn’t accept it and made her rewrite the paper, this time arguing that global warming did exist. The teacher then marked the student down a full letter grade because she had to re-write it. “If more issues like this arise,” he said, “we will definitely protest or send students
12/03/10 Musician Peter Breinhold will visit Performance Hall Friday for Christmas benefit concert Page 5
The mission statement of the USU Alumni Association, according to event coordinator Cecile Gilmer, is to “promote Utah State and the benefits of being an alumni as well as to reach out to the students and try to further to talk to the professors about the mission of Utah State.” their grading policy.” This year’s Hall of Honor Camp said the issue has award was presented by the become a self-perpetuating USU Alumni Association to cycle in which like-minded Sydnee Madsen, Dennis and faculty continue to hire those Lynn Sessions, and Randy with similar political views. and Kathie Watts on Nov. 5. “I can’t really say what Gilmer said, “Mostly people percentage of professors push are chosen who have compolitics on their students,” mitted a lot of time to the Camp said, “but I do know Alumni Association, or finanthat students are always going cial resources, for years.” to feel pressured to have the Gilmer said often, these view that their professors people have either been chaphave. That’s why the title of ter presidents, or served on the board. - See VIDEO, page 3 “Nominations can be taken from anyone, alumni,
Derrvin Speight finally gets lead role for Aggies Page 13
administrators, faculty or staff.” Gilmer said. From then, it is narrowed down to a handful of candidates who are then voted on and finally chosen by the executive board.” Sydnee Madsen, a USU graduate and Aggie athletics advocate, currently lives in the Holladay area of Salt Lake City, with her husband and four children. “Of course its a great honor, but it also makes me excited for the years ahead of me. More than the award its the beginning of lots of opportunities to advocate Utah State and the Alumni Association,” Madsen said of the award. During her time as a USU student, Madsen was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a member of the
- See AWARDS, page 3
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