Third annual AIDS/HIV retreat
Program will focus on human aspect of disease
By Marie Gentile
- Third annual AIDS/HIV Awareness Retreat will be held on Feb. 8 and 9
- Retreat gives opportunity to learn more about the issue of AIDS and HIV in Milwaukee
- Students on the retreat will listen to speakers, meet and discuss with people who are HIV positive, and perform service activities related to AIDS/HIV in Milwaukee
- Applications are available in room 329 of the AMU and are due this Thurs. at 8 p.m.
While many people tend to think of AIDS and HIV as a distant problem, Marquette students are working to educate others about the impact that these diseases are having right here in Milwaukee through an annual AIDS/HIV Awareness Retreat.
The retreat, organized by the Office of Community Service and the HIV/AIDS advocacy group Watumishi: People of Service, will offer students a unique insight into the problem of AIDS and HIV in Milwaukee. Students on the retreat will have the opportunity to listen to speakers about the subject of HIV and AIDS, meet and interact with people who are HIV positive and perform various service activities related to HIV and AIDS.
Mike Ziegler, one of the organizers of the retreat and a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said his main hope is to give students a more human perspective of the disease and to instill in them a desire for change.
"What I hope they take away from this retreat is that AIDS is not some far away issue in Africa, but that it's actually very close to home," Ziegler said. "I also want them to understand the humanity of the people infected with AIDS and HIV, and get to know them as people. Finally, I want to create a passion within them that will inspire action to make a physical, concrete change."
This is the third year the retreat has been offered and this year some features of the event are being changed. Ziegler said the students will be talking to a wider breadth of people about the issue of AIDS and HIV, including a single woman, a college-aged student and a homosexual male. He said the service aspect is also something that has not been part of the retreat in past years.
Published: 2/7/08 Section: News
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