Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photos By Ed Phillips

Tolerance and understanding through art on a wall

By Heather Templeton

hntempleton@vwc.edu

For the past decade the AIDS Wall in Village II has caught the attention of many passers-by. This week, two students took the initiative to add to the 10-year legacy and open up the wall for more illustrations.

Junior Deirdre White and sophomore Ashleigh Roberson chose to continue the legacy of the AIDS wall by inviting the campus community to add blocks to the wall.

On Tuesday the wall had already doubled in size from the existing design. Roberson said that David Buckingham, Dean of Students, had given the students permission to cover the entire corridor if they have enough interest.

 It has been almost a decade since the first wall was done, and we wanted to begin the project so that we can continue to keep the memorials of people who have suffered from AIDS while also continuing the education and awareness, said Roberson.

The student project was designed for Dr. Kathy Stolley s AIDS and Society class. The students in the class were asked to come up with a final project that would promote AIDS awareness for World AIDS, nationally celebrated Dec. 1.

The new blocks will be outlined in a bright red paint and added proportionally to either side of the existing wall. Roberson and White wanted to be sure that they clearly showed differences so that the original wall could still be recognizable and honored.

 The epidemic has been going on for nearly forty years, and we have made baby steps. But there is still a lot of stigma and prejudice that is occurring and a sense that people don t take the risk seriously enough, said Roberson.  This is the goal of adding to the wall; we want to promote tolerance and education and remember those we have lost. At the same time we want to recognize the significance of the original wall and take care to incorporate the legacy, history and emotion that were put into it.

The original wall was first met with opposition from the campus community and even received graffiti. White and Roberson are hoping that attitudes have now changed.

 Today when you have questions about something you don t know about, you just look it up online, said Roberson.  Ten years ago that wasn t an option, so people didn t know that much about AIDS.

All Stolley s class projects are designed to help spread awareness of AIDS around campus. The goal is to educate the public and remove the stigma that is associated with the disease.

The student projects will take place all over campus for the next week. Posters will be hung, movies will be shown and even a benefit dance will be hosted.

Perhaps the most exciting for the class is the opportunity to bring a portion of the AIDS Quilt to campus. The display of the Quilt will cost money to display. The funds are primarily provided through the Tidewater AIDS Task Force (TACT) and by the Office of International and Intercultural Programs, with support from Community Service, Counseling Services, Health Services, Residence Life and Women s and Gender Studies. The Quilt portion is from the largest community art project in the world and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

TACT has been a crucial part in the success of the AIDS and Society class. According the Web site, TACT is a  private non-profit corporation whose purpose is to support and maintain the best quality of life for persons infected and affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and to reduce the overall incidence of HIV infection by providing education, information, HIV prevention, and support services to the general public, especially those living with HIV/AIDS.

Other than important backing and funding, TACT has also provided information, educational speakers and resources for the class. Their partnership with the students has helped make the projects a success, said Stolley.

The AIDS and Society class began as a one time only topics course. However, due to the interest by students and quality of work, Stolley is considering offering it on a more regular basis.

 They ve been awesome, she said about projects and student enthusiasm.  I hope the campus comes out to support the projects and talk with the students, because they are eager to share what they ve learned.