Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been celebrated on December 1st, and has been bringing messages of hope, compassion, solidarity, and understanding to the people across the globe. Sexual Health & Violence Prevention has been committed to raising awareness and educating the USC community about this pandemic for several years. In the past we have hosted speaker panels and invited individuals living with HIV or who have lost loved ones to AIDS to address students, faculty, and staff with personal messages. Now we have initiated a new campus-wide event to coincide with the local community World AIDS Day ceremony.

Since 1998, Sexual Health & Violence Prevention has worked with the Residence Hall Association and other student organizations to garner interest and participation in a quilt-making project. Participating student groups are given materials to create a quilt panel around the World AIDS Day theme. In addition to the fabrics, students are also given an educational packet of information about the effects that HIV/AIDS is having on a local and global level. They are instructed to incorporate what they learn, in addition to the theme, into their panel. Once the quilt panels are completed, the students congregate on the grassy area near the Russell House Student Union to join their panels together and walk to the South Carolina State House for the community candlelight vigil. Once at the State House, students, with their joined panels, line up on either side of a giant red ribbon adorning the steps. The event usually includes a guest speaker, musical performances, and a moment of reflection to remember those affected by HIV or who have died with AIDS.

We hope the participating organizations and residence halls will build their own quilts with the panels they create each year, as well as participate in the annual community event. Quilts can then be displayed in the halls or within the organizations to continue raising awareness and educating the community about HIV/AIDS.

In addition to the quilt panels and community event, the Office for Sexual Health & Violence Prevention sponsors free OraSure HIV testing for university students, faculty, and staff each year on World AIDS Day.

If you are interested in learning more about HIV testing, the World AIDS Day events, or want to know how your organization can get involved, contact us at 777-8248. You are also welcomed to drop by our office located in the Thomson Student Health Center’s lower level.