The Student Union Board is hosting a forum on AIDS to discuss living with the disease and ways to prevent contracting it at 7 tonight in the Maintenance Shop.

The program is running in coordination with World AIDS Day, and it’s free and open to the public.

“I think it’s good to get more awareness in the community,” said Sarah Piziali, forums director for SUB. “It’s especially important in a college community, where sex is more prevalent.”

Myke Selha, client advocate/project PLAY (Protecting the Lives of At-Risk Youth) coordinator for the AIDS Project of Central Iowa, said his interactive discussion will not be the average speech, as he does stand-up comedy.

“I will be discussing details about HIV transmission and prevention,” he said.

Another speaker, Shelly Gordon, runs a program in Des Moines called “Heroes,” which works with AIDS patients. Gordon is living with the disease.

Piziali, senior in chemical engineering, said she thinks it’s important for students to become more educated about the disease.

“As aware as people are of AIDS, some people still aren’t as aware as they should be,” she said.

Members of the Student Health Advisory Committee will donate condoms at the event. They also will be handing out fliers at the event that give information about being tested for HIV.

—by Genelle Nissen