By From The Editors

In only two years, the number of new cases of college males who were infected with HIV in North Carolina jumped from six to 30, forcing health officials to cry “outbreak.” According to health officials who released the 2004 report, the increase marked the greatest jump in the number of cases reported by college students since the virus was first detected in 1981.

There is no doubt that the country has made great strides since the eighties, when President Ronald Reagan denied entry to people with AIDS trying to come to the United States and promoted abstinence as the best means of prevention. Since then, education and awareness of HIV and AIDS has expanded, but so has the number of people vulnerable to the disease. No longer an issue limited to the gay community, the disease also targets heterosexual men and women of all ages and ethnicities.

While physicians nationwide track the number of cases, there are no official numbers for college students nationwide, since those who are diagnosed are not asked to provide information regarding whether they are enrolled in college. However, thrown into a high frequency dating environment, college students are more likely to have multiple sexual partners, and therefore, at a higher risk.

Many students are aware of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, but as they head out to he bars on the weekends, few think the decisions they make may put them at risk of becoming another number added to the 930,000 people in the United States living with AIDS. Last Friday, the University recognized World AIDS Day by inviting health experts and activists to campus to speak about the risks, preventive measures and services that are available to help those who are coping with being HIV positive. The Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County distributed information and even offered students the chance to receive a free, confidential HIV test. While it is difficult to pass up a free offer, many students did not take advantage of the HIV screening. It is understandable that students were intimidated by the needles and the possibility that they could test positive. This is not necessarily news that one would want to learn right before heading to class. The University and all the organizations should be applauded for providing the educational tools to students, whether they were utilized or not. While there is no statistics available on the results of the free testing, the students who did participate, whether the results were positive or negative, all received knowledge. Those who tested negative can breath a sigh of relief, but also educate themselves on how to stay safe and spread awareness to friends and family. For those who tested positive, they are now aware of what medications and programs are available to help them control the virus.

The scariest part of the test is waiting for the results, wouldn’t it be worse (and possibly fatal) to never know? While the temporary screening clinic in the Student Center has been disassembled, the chance to get tested for HIV and other STDs still exists. Students should schedule an appointment with a local or family physician or visit Planned Parenthood in Hempstead to receive the tests, not only to protect themselves but also their sexual partners.