Do you know the truth about AIDS? If you don’t, the 2003 West Virginia Wesleyan College AIDS awareness week will be held March 17-21. In conjunction with Mt. State AIDS Network, eight panels of AIDS quilt will be displayed on campus and the Upshur County community. The quilt sends a message of remembrance, awareness and hope.

This is the ninth year Wesleyan has hosted the quilt. WVWC junior Heather McRae, through her collaboration with Upshur County Mountain CAP’s HIV/AIDS program, has planned activities for the AIDS awareness week. McRae's interest in AIDS awareness education was sparked when she viewed the AIDS quilt for the first time. McRae explained, "I saw the AIDS quilt the last time it was displayed at the mall in Washington D.C. It was the last time that it actually fit in the mall, and it was really overwhelming.

“There are just so many people that have been affected by AIDS. That is why it is really important to have this program on a college campus...so people know the truth."

The on-campus program begins with the core of Wesleyan's tradition of AIDS awareness. The program will begin with portions of the AIDS quilt itself that consists of eight, twelve-foot panels. These portions will be on display in the Wesley Chapel the entire week from noon-8 p.m. All members of the campus and the Upshur County community are encouraged to come and view the quilt. The experience of the AIDS quilt is a very powerful one. These squares memorialize the lives of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and yes even children who have lost their battle to this disease. McRae describes the purpose of this experience as being, "To spread awareness about AIDS. It just doesn't seem like a very prevalent thing here in West Virginia, but it is."

On Tuesday, March 18, the chapel service will be hosting K. Almond as a guest speaker with a service dedicated to AIDS advocacy. That same day, the AIDS program will extend to Buckhannon-Upshur High School. The students will have an opportunity to view the AIDS quilt, and will be able to attend a presentation of the AIDS program. The program includes workshops, such as "Who is in Your Bed." On Wednesday March 19, activities will continue at the high school with small group discussions between college students and high school students in individual health classes.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the monitoring of the quilt here on campus and to participate in the workshops at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. If you have a free hour, please sign up! The workshops are a lot of fun! You can contact Heather McRae at mcrae_he@wvwc.edu to register.

The students and faculty of WVWC and the community are encouraged to come and join in the West Virginia Wesleyan College AIDS awareness week. It is a week of awareness, education and advocacy. Come and maybe you too can know the truth about AIDS.