It's a heavy subject to broach, and not a lot of people know how to talk about it, but it is a reality, one that affects us as people, as students, as partners and families. It's something that everyone should be aware of. I'm talking about HIV/AIDS. We need an open forum on our campus where people can learn about preventing the spread of and dealing with the reality of HIV/AIDS, and with World AIDS Day coming up on December 1, this is a great time for it.

World AIDS Day is a day to unite people in the fight against this disease, to spread education and raise awareness, to commemorate people who have lost their lives to this disease and also to give back to organizations in our community who work every day towards prevention and education about HIV/AIDS.

What exactly is HIV/AIDS and why is it so important for us to know about it? HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that weakens people's immune system and makes it difficult to fight off infections. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and is an advanced form of illness caused by HIV. As of 2009, approximately 65,000 people in Canada were living with HIV/AIDS, this number has risen from 57,000 in 2005. Over 20 per cent of infections were caused by needle sharing, and although there is a perception that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease, it is not. More heterosexual men and women are becoming infected, increasing from 10 per cent to 25 per cent by 2009. Between 2,300 and 4,300 infections occur each year and of these, about onequarter of people aren't aware of the infection. HIV/AIDS can infect anyone; nobody is immune to it and there is no cure for this disease.

So what can we do as students? Spectrum Fanshawe is setting up in Forwell Hall on December 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We will be hosting a bake sale fundraiser and the monies raised will be donated to a local organization that provides services to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection. Spectrum will be selling baked goods and red ribbons as well as accepting donations and distributing information about HIV/AIDS and STIs. By making a donation or purchasing a cupcake, students can help make a difference by supporting community services that combat HIV/AIDS, and every cent we raise will go the organization. Students can also get educational materials to learn more about World AIDS Day and how to educate themselves.

Help us make a difference in our community and the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. Please stop by our table and join us in the fight on World AIDS Day. For more information about the event or Spectrum, email spectrumfanshawe@gmail.com.