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Students to participate in World AIDS Day by Cindy Abole Public Relations For the first time, MUSC student leaders and students have partnered with Lowcountry community leaders to participate in campuswide and area events promoting World AIDS Day Dec. 1.   Working with student leaders and the MUSC Gives Back student volunteer program, students committed themselves to planning and partnering with Lowcountry AIDS Services, institutions and supporters commemorating World AIDS Day activities. MUSC will host a student-run midday celebration and later participate in the annual World AIDS Day March which concludes with a candlelight vigil in downtown Charleston’s Washington Square park.       Third-year pharmacy student Amy Goodwin will lead this year’s student effort on campus.   “There’s several reasons why MUSC should be involved with this community worldwide effort,” said Goodwin, who helped organize student efforts in 2004. “As the state’s largest health care institution training future health care practitioners, it's important. There’s not one of us who may someday in our careers treat or be affected by a person living with AIDS. Each of us must be willing to educate and help them realize that the disease is still a reality.”   Last year, Goodwin helped organize three College of Pharmacy organizations to sponsor a fund-raising luncheon recognizing World AIDS Day. The event netted approximately $800 in donations benefitting Lowcountry AIDS Services.   The event will be held between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the portico. Participating students and student groups will prepare posters, share presentations and information to the MUSC community, visitors and patients. Some volunteers will also be selling bracelets, pins, red ribbons and other donated items or participate in other publicity to recognize the event on campus. Organizers have invited area food vendors to participate and asked participants to share 20 percent of the day’s proceeds as a donation towards Lowcountry AIDS Services efforts.   Participating student organizations include: College of Pharmacy’s Student National Pharmacy Association and Academy of Students of Pharmacy; College of Graduate Studies’ Multicultural Graduate Student Association; College of Dental Medicine’s Student National Dental Association; MUSC Public Health Interest Group; Neurology Interest Group; MUSC Student Government Association; MUSC Gay Straight Alliance and other groups.     “What has made this project succeed is the level of genuine interest and support from student-advocates like Amy Goodwin and others who recognize the value of meeting our community needs,” said Liz Sheridan, MUSC Gives Back director, who is among university support staff delighted in seeing students and student organizations take charge in planning and collaborating with more shared intercollegiate activities and community service. “So far, students are driving this collaboration among themselves to meet a shared goal of providing AIDS education and awareness on campus, while also contributing to other community support.”   Although small in numbers, graduate student Willietta Gibson and members of the MUSC Multiculutural Graduate Student Association found it easy to commit to this particular campuswide effort. Gibson, who is past president of the group, recently worked with other members to prepare a poster presentation on the historical progression of AIDS and how it affects people on a global scale.   The group also committed to selling event ribbons and buttons and plan to participate in the event march and vigil.      Since the mid-1990s, it is estimated that the number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV infections reported in South Carolina steadily increased by about 70 percent. HIV is the virus known to cause AIDS. Still, the most common form of HIV transmission is through heterosexual sex. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Southern women, especially blacks, make up about 76 percent of new HIV infections across the nation.      “We want to help others heighten AIDS awareness among specific communities,” said Gibson. “We want to support the mission of Lowcountry AIDS Services by teaching and motivating the public to become less complacent as it relates and how AIDS affects people locally, nationally and internationally.”   “I’m both amazed and pleased with the level of support committed by the students in this year’s efforts,” said Mark Gray, Lowcountry AIDS Services director. “This serves as a wonderful opportunity to bring new people to the table for promoting AIDS awareness in the Tri-county. It also provides a chance for us to work with others in the community who have the ability to be a catalyst for advocacy and action among groups.” Friday, Nov. 25, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.