AIDS: The end begins with us

As more than 200 people with red ribbons pinned to their shirt collars filed into Great Hall Wednesday, the message was clear that World AIDS Day has significant meaning to Heidelberg College.

’Berg Allies, Black Student Union and the men of Alpha Phi Tau hosted this year’s annual AIDS Charity Banquet, with the theme “The End Begins in Us” and featuring guest speaker Tyler TerMeer of the Ohio AIDS Coalition.

Providing musical entertainment were the Heidelberg AIDS Charity Choir, directed by Professor Joan McConnell; Dr. Pieter Grobler; the Westhuizen Duo of Pierre van der Westhuizen and Sophie Grobler; and juniors Casie Scott and Chelsea Nupp. Junior David Glover presented a montage of poetry written by children. Casie Scott presented a short skit, written by junior Cody Bartone, the event organizer

TerMeer, a 2005 graduate of Otterbein College, talked about his experiences with the virus in his speech titled “Let’s Start a Conversation: The Changing Face of an Epidemic.” TerMeer talked about coming to terms with his sexuality in college, and in his junior year, when he was 21 years old, he found himself in what he believed to be a monogamous relationship.

The relationship ended, and TerMeer went to get tested for HIV. Then, his life changed forever. He said, “I could think of a million reasons why HIV could never be a part of my life. But there it was. I had HIV.”

“Many young people feel invincible,” TerMeer said, adding that they think that this disease “can’t impact their world, but it’s just not true.” According to TerMeer, half of the new HIV/AIDS infections occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the United States and across the world.

“The time for a change has come,” he said. “As young people, we are the new generation of HIV … This is no longer the gay, white man’s disease. This disease doesn’t discriminate. It crosses every racial and sexual barrier we know.”

TerMeer left the audience with encouraging sentiments. “Dispel myths, educate yourself and others. That is how to help people with HIV.”

Posted Nov. 29, 2007