2008 Woodie Awards
AIDS pandemic is still a danger to us all
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Editorial
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HIV/AIDS first came to light in medical circles in 1981, and since that time more than 20 million people have died of this terrible affliction.
While most Americans are quite familiar with the illness, in recent years the country has seemed far less concerned with the problem than it has been in the past.
For this reason, Emerson's involvement in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Week (BC/EFA) is especially important.
The program is the nation's leading not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. The BC/EFA draws upon the talents, resources and generosity of the theatre community to raise funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it was founded in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $100 million for critically-needed services for people with AIDS.
EFA Week at Emerson, presented by the Musical Theatre Society (MTS), played out last week with a strong turnout from students, enabling them to raise more than $4,500.
The focus of the week-long program was to increase awareness of AIDS among Emersonians and to raise as much money as possible for the fight against this incurable disease.
Though EFA week was successful, it is fair to say that the focus placed on AIDS during the week does not feed into an overarching awareness throughout the country, especially with new dangers like the bird flu grabbing all the headlines.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, the American public began to collectively understand the deadly nature of HIV/AIDS, which for years had been erroneously considered a disease that only infected gay men. Celebrities such as tennis legend Arthur Ashe fell victim to the disease-which, however tragic, did serve to increase the public's awareness on the issue.
Then, in 1991, when NBA MVP Earvin "Magic" Johnson was diagnosed with HIV, the illness became one of our nation's biggest concerns. Tribute concerts were held to help raise money for HIV/AIDS research and care. Pop stars got involved as well.
While most Americans are quite familiar with the illness, in recent years the country has seemed far less concerned with the problem than it has been in the past.
For this reason, Emerson's involvement in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Week (BC/EFA) is especially important.
The program is the nation's leading not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. The BC/EFA draws upon the talents, resources and generosity of the theatre community to raise funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it was founded in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $100 million for critically-needed services for people with AIDS.
EFA Week at Emerson, presented by the Musical Theatre Society (MTS), played out last week with a strong turnout from students, enabling them to raise more than $4,500.
The focus of the week-long program was to increase awareness of AIDS among Emersonians and to raise as much money as possible for the fight against this incurable disease.
Though EFA week was successful, it is fair to say that the focus placed on AIDS during the week does not feed into an overarching awareness throughout the country, especially with new dangers like the bird flu grabbing all the headlines.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, the American public began to collectively understand the deadly nature of HIV/AIDS, which for years had been erroneously considered a disease that only infected gay men. Celebrities such as tennis legend Arthur Ashe fell victim to the disease-which, however tragic, did serve to increase the public's awareness on the issue.
Then, in 1991, when NBA MVP Earvin "Magic" Johnson was diagnosed with HIV, the illness became one of our nation's biggest concerns. Tribute concerts were held to help raise money for HIV/AIDS research and care. Pop stars got involved as well.
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