News Article

Gonzaga University will celebrate its second annual AIDS Awareness Week beginning with a Mass on Sunday, Nov. 25 and culminating in World AIDS Day on Saturday, Dec. 1. Organizers aim to educate the GU community on the worldwide pandemic and how it kills indiscriminately. All of the week’s events are free and open to the public, unless stated otherwise.
Events are as follows:

* Compassion Mass: 10 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 25, in St. Aloysius Church.
* Discussion: “AIDS 101”: by Stephen Holland, a Red Cross representative, and GU religious studies Professor Pat McCormick, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26, in the Jepson Center’s Wolff Auditorium.
* Speaker Panel: “The Personal Side of AIDS”: Members of the GU and Spokane communities will discuss their experience of AIDS, 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27, in College Hall, Room 101.
* Jazz Combos at Coffeehouse: Gonzaga’s jazz combos will perform, 8-9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28, in the Crosby Student Center, and an educational AIDS table will be set up. Sponsored by the Gonzaga Activities Board.
* Film screening: A documentary about the AIDS pandemic and how it affects areas of the world. Introduction by Fr. Patrick Baraza, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, in the Jundt Art Center.
* AIDS Immersion Lunch featuring Mark Garrett, from the Spokane AIDS Network, 11 a.m.-noon, Friday, Nov. 30, in the Globe Room, Cataldo Hall. Garrett will discuss what it’s like to live with AIDS. Tickets are $5 per person.
* Benefit Concert, Photo Exhibit: The GU Big Band and Steps Ahead will perform and there will be a Catholic Relief Services photo exhibit on display from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, in Cataldo Hall, Globe Room.
* Peace March: Members of the GU community and the Spokane AIDS Network will march from noon-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, starting at the Crosby Student Center steps, in honor of World AIDS Day.
* Prayer Vigil for those Living with AIDS: 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, in the University Chapel in College Hall.

In addition to these events, the GU community will raise money to donate to an orphanage in Zambia, Africa. Gonzaga students will have a table in the Crosby Student Center throughout the week, where they will sell red ribbons for $1 each. The students also will sell black Catholic Relief Services’ T-shirts that read, “This T-shirt fights HIV/AIDS.” The shirts cost $15 each, and run in medium to extra-large. Of each $15 cost, $10 goes back to Catholic Relief Services’ fair trade communities and $5 goes to the orphanage in Zambia.
For more information, contact AIDS Awareness Week coordinator Katie Corbett via e-mail or adviser Mary Frier at (509) 323-5543 or via e-mail.