Columbians joined organizations worldwide in recognizing HIV/AIDS Week, which culminates in World AIDS Day. On this day, we stop to remember victims and patients of the disease. Although HIV/AIDS is often seen as an issue that does not have a direct impact on Columbia, student groups are working to promote awareness of the impact this disease has on us all.

Amirah Sequeira, Vice President of Columbia Students Global AIDS Campaign, remarked that "throughout the week we have a variety of educational, awareness and activist events for students to attend that deal with various issues relating to HIV and AIDS."

This year on World AIDS Day, the Columbia Students Global AIDS Campaign held a vigil to remember those members of the Columbia community who have been affected by the disease. In addition to efforts in the local community, Columbia groups are making their voices heard in bigger ways.

"[Columbia Students Global AIDS Campaign] participated in a White House call-in, which was happening across the nation, so we got students across Columbia to phone in to the White House and let the White House and President Obama know how unhappy we have been with his commitment to HIV/AIDS since he came into office."

Although HIV/AIDS activists throughout the country have been working hard to make a difference in the lives of HIV positive individuals, they still have their work cut out for them.

As Sequeira noted, "It was established that in this country, any HIV+ person would receive the HIV medication they needed, and that’s not happening at the moment due to funding issues." 

Through the efforts of student activists at Columbia and beyond, we hope to see improvements and greater awareness of the issues surrounding the HIV/AIDS community.