By Polly Peebles The Finerwomen of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. has done it again! At noon on Sunday, September 25th, over 10 student-run Northern Illinois University organizations met at the Center for Black Studies to walk in order to complete a mission that the Zetas have initiated for almost 2 decades. The AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) walk is part of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s national Z-Hope program (Zeta’s Helping Other People Excel) to support health and wellness among the community. For 19 years the Zeta’s have successfully facilitated the AIDS 5K walk-a-thon to promote health awareness and advocacy for the Dekalb and NIU community. The Center for Black studies was bolstering with friendly smiles, hugs, and chatter as students and community members placed their red ribbons onto their shirts and awaited the commencement of the walk. Various organizations gathered their organizations’ banners and for some, posters with AIDS facts written which many members read aloud to participators. Throughout our walk, chants such as “Avoid the scare, be aware!” and “Know your status” were yelled repeatedly as drivers and on-lookers honked and chanted excitedly with the group. The group made their way down Normal Rd., towards Ridge Dr. to make their way around North Annie Glidden Rd., and finally back towards Lucinda where participants met at Neptune Central. During the walk, I found myself going around and asking several different individuals that participated in the walk out of curiosity if they knew what AIDS stood for. To my surprise, ¼ of these individuals knew what AIDS stood for and among the few I’ve asked, 2 of the individuals were males from the Zeta’s brother Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma. It was astonishing to me to witness that still in 2016 where Black Americans are the #1 persons Race diagnosed with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), yet college African American males did not know what the acronym AIDS stood for. Luckily, the representatives at OpenDoorClinic helped educate all participants with information initiated by a Q&A style session within the Neptune Central lobby area. Among our wonderful speakers were, Brian and Carmen, which made the session very comfortable and entertaining. Carmen gave one of the male participants a condom and asked him to demonstrate step-by-step how to put on the condom correctly. Many chuckled as he struggled to properly recite the steps, but Carmen was very helpful in aiding the gentleman, for I’m sure he was the only one in the room that did not know the correct steps. A young woman from the crowd asked one of the key speakers, Brian, “What is the process for someone that has contracted AIDS/HIV?” Brian broke down the process by listing out a few things that will then take place if tested positive for AIDS/HIV: -Making sure that the individual receives medication as soon as possible -Getting care and staying in care (both physically and mentally, for stress can progress the disease) -Communication with partner(s) so that they too are aware and can get tested The events ended with free anonymous HIV/AIDS testing which was provided by the OpenDoorClinic, as well as a nice lunch that the Zeta’s were so kind to have provided for everyone that participated. Although the walk was a bit tiresome for some, there were still as many smiles and chatter as everyone came together to enjoy a meal with their fellow peers which is here where I decided to ask two participants what they thought about the program? Zena Sosa, member of Present Perfect Modeling Organization (PPMO), junior Pre-Athletic Training Major, responded, “I felt the program was very informative. I’ve already had prior knowledge about AIDS but I think being refreshed on the idea of how it is transmitted, the stigmas of those living with AIDS, and the difference between AIDS and HIV was very good to hear. Therefore, if in the future I have to pass any information to my friends or use it for myself I am knowledgeable on the topic and can protect myself.” Brandon, member of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., responded, “I liked how the program helped engage students and provide knowledge on AIDS. The walk was definitely successful because I felt we got word out to the Dekalb Community.” It has been almost 2 decades since the program started, and the Zeta’s are still educating the community around them, and for that I will like to commend you all and all of the participants and organizations that helped make yet another AIDS walk successful. Don’t forget, the steps towards prevention is through awareness, so don’t be afraid know your status and get tested. If you need any information on a local facility for AIDS testing or more information on prevention and treatment, visit https://www.aids.gov.
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