Nearly two decades after AIDS became an international crisis, some college students continue to think of the disease and its accompanying virus, HIV, as something that “can’t happen to them.”

Two resident assistants in Oak Hall are hoping to raise awareness about the dangers and the realities of the disease. Deborah Sundquist, RA of Durian House, and Susan Lammers, RA of Fosmark House, are presenting an AIDS awareness program, in conjunction with Condom Week.

The program, which will involve a question-and-answer session with HIV-positive residents of Story County, will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the large conference room of the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons.

Thanks to Pam Carnine, director of the Story County AIDS Coalition, the program will feature several HIV-positive persons willing to share their stories.

Sundquist, sophomore in communication studies, said she got the idea to put on this type of program from a friend who is a resident assistant at the University of Northern Iowa.

She said she had originally wanted to have an AIDS-HIV awareness panel last December in conjunction with AIDS Awareness Week, but she decided there were too many activities going on during that time for their program to be successful.

Sundquist said even though the program is taking place during Condom Week, it isn’t necessarily a “preachy safe-sex program.” She added she hopes this program will “wipe away ignorance” about the disease.

Lammers, senior in family and consumer sciences, said she feels her residents are aware of AIDS, but she said there is always more to learn about the disease.

“Obviously, AIDS isn’t going away,” Lammers said. “There’s more information out there now … definitely a lot of information, people just need to find it, and I don’t think it’s that hard to find.”

She added that there “is a great need to educate ourselves, and protect ourselves.”

Sundquist agreed, saying the disease is a reality for college students everywhere, including Iowa State.

“Nobody is invincible,” Sundquist said. “College students [sometimes believe] nothing can touch them. It’s more of a reality than we think.”

Sundquist said she believes this program will be a great opportunity for students to learn about the disease “person-to-person, face-to-face.”

She said the program should encourage students to be more inquisitive with their partners about their sexual histories, and that if the program reaches even one person, that will be enough for her.

Lammers said she wants students to gain a better understanding of the disease.

“It’s a more real-life application,” Lammers said, of seeing AIDS-HIV patients face-to-face. “It will mean more to them.”