Letters to the Editor: 12/10/12

To the Editor:

Thank you for bringing attention to the World AIDS Day Rally and events on campus. However, The Pitt News’ superficial and even inaccurate coverage of these events (“World AIDS Day,” 12/3) was a disservice to the students involved.

The article dismissed the roles of students and volunteers in this event. Contrary to statements in the article, the principal organizer of the rally was Tran Doan, a vice president of Pitt’s Graduate and Professional Student Government. Ms. Doan and GPSG, along with Jason Herring from (Pittsburgh) Red, coordinated the majority of student participation and logistics. This omission also discounts many other student leaders and volunteers who were essential to this event.

The article also neglected to mention any ancillary World AIDS Day student events. Pitt students deserve much credit for their efforts: T-shirt sales and tabling, an HIV Trivia Night, the SGB Pre-rally, documentary screenings, a remembrance service and many more. The article’s disregard of the student activities surrounding the rally paints a poor picture of Pitt students’ concern about sexual health and their commitment to educating their communities about HIV.

Fifteen to 24-year-olds account for 40 percent of all new (non-infant) HIV cases; infections in the Pittsburgh region are on the rise. World Aids Day offers opportunities to engage in advocacy and dispel stigma and discrimination. Yet your article perpetuated myths by treating HIV and AIDS as synonymous. Understanding the differences between this virus (HIV) and the advanced immune-compromised stage of the disease (AIDS) is crucial to prevention and care efforts.

David Givens

President, Graduate and Professional Student Government

Chairman, Pittsburgh Student Government Council

Graduate School of Public Health