By Kat Noel

On Nov. 6, students and faculty gathered in Northeastern’s Raytheon Amphitheater for a forum that touched upon an illness that is devastating the black and Latino community: HIV. The forum was sponsored by the Latin American Student Organization and Legacy 2000.

“As a person I am aware that HIV has a large impact on the Latino and black community,” said Elisa Castillo, a Psychologist Multicultural Specialist at Northeastern’s Center for Counseling and Student Development. “Something that is important to me is the well being of the community.”

Making sure that she’s informed is important to Castillo so that she can inform others. Castillo finds that the concerns and questions students have about AIDS and sexual orientation are things she can take back to her colleagues.

“This program was brought into fruition to allow people to visualize the seriousness of this disease, its devastating effects and an understanding that AIDS does kill,” said LASO President Jorge Sanchez.

Due to the death of Sanchez’s aunt five years ago from the AIDS virus, he felt it was his responsibility to bring the issue to Northeastern’s campus. Sanchez approached Mark Harvey, director of the Legacy 2000 Mentoring program, with the idea of holding a forum where students could become informed about the effects of AIDS and HIV.

“I’ve been here on this campus for three years,” said Andres Tejada, vice-president of LASO, “and this is the first time that I’ve been to any event that AIDS has been discussed.”

The reason that AIDS and HIV has been viewed as a taboo discussion topic is due to the many stereotypes that has been associated with the illness. Many view AIDS as an issue that exclusively infects the gay community. Sanchez points out to the forum’s audience that the AIDS virus has no prejudice.

“It effects everyone no matter race, creed or religion,” he Sanchez. “Anyone can be infected whether you are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender or heterosexual. You can be infected. This is not a ‘gay disease’ or a ‘drug-users’ disease. This is a people disease.”

The emphasis of the program was to remind students that STDs are the “common cold” on college campuses. To believe that AIDS and HIV does not exist on Northeastern’s campus is denying reality.

“HIV and AIDS lives on this campus,” said Sanchez. “It lives here at Northeastern.”

Students are advised to take precautions when engaging in sexual activities. Properly using condoms lowers the risk of contracting the virus. Students can be tested at Northeastern’s Lane Health Center. The testing is confidential.

“I have been tested and thankfully it came out negative,” said Tejada, “which was a huge relief to me. When I do things now, I really think about what’s going on and I consider who I’m with because I don’t want to be infected. I do talk to my friends about AIDS. It’s out there and it lives here.”