Tomorrow is World AIDS Day! This year, the worldwide theme is "Getting to Zero." The goal of this theme is to achieve three targets: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. These goals are impressive, almost to the point of being intimidating. How can we possibly eliminate the stigma associated with an AIDS diagnosis? How could we ever prevent all AIDS-related deaths, in addition to all new diagnoses?! I think the ambitious goals of 2011 are designed to be a wake up call to the world. YES, it would be impossible to achieve these things with just a few people. BUT think of what we could do TOGETHER! If everyone unites to contribute a portion of their time and passion to the cause on December 1st, imagine what we could accomplish. Getting to Zero? WE CAN DO IT.
The Women's Center has been preparing for this day of strength and remembrance for quite some time now. As always, we will have a beautiful panel of the AIDS quilt hanging in the Berrie Center all day for students to visit and pay respects to. Pamphlets and information will also be available all day. In the evening, keynote speaker Anthony Rapp will be speaking (also in the Berrie Center). Anthony Rapp is best known for originating the role of Mark in RENT, and can be seen here performing "What You Own" with Adam Pascal. "Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical RENT" is anticipated to be the perfect closing to World AIDS Day at Ramapo. Tickets are available at Roadrunner Central for only $5. After the show, Anthony Rapp will stay to meet audience members and sign copies of his book. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a broadway legend!
Please do involve yourself in World AIDS Day in any way you can--together, we really can beat AIDS.
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