“Imagine nothing to read, no music, no dancing, no drama, no design, no paintings, no films, no photographs,” a poster hanging in the entrance to the Longest Student Health Center reads.
The buildings and grounds of the Mississippi State campus may seem somber and colorless today in observance of World AIDS Day.
Most of the artwork on campus is covered as part of the “Day With(out) Art,” a symbolic practice to illustrate the effect HIV and AIDS has had on the art community.
Lacey Leachman, health education graduate assistant, said this is the second year the MSU campus has participated in the Day With(out) Art.
“We’re really trying to expand it this year,” Leachman said. “We are doing this because on college campuses, a lot of emphasis is placed on other sexually transmitted diseases.”
Larger pieces of art on campus are covered with fabric, and smaller pieces are covered with paper. All pieces have information about World AIDS Day, Leachman said.
This is to call attention to the disproportionate numbers of people involved in the arts that are affected by this epidemic.
The covering of art in no way suggests that the artist or subject has or had HIV/AIDS,” the disclaimer on each piece of covered art reads.
Leachman said the covering of art is a good way to make a bold statement and have students pay attention to the fact that HIV and AIDS is still an epidemic that can affect them.
“HIV and AIDS are still perceived as something that affects other people rather than college students,” she said. “This way it really hits most college students as they see things covered while walking across the Drill Field or through the halls to class.”
A large fabric AIDS ribbon is scheduled to be at a booth from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Drill Field.
“People are encouraged to sign the ribbon to show their support in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” Leachman said.
Another booth is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of Allen Hall.
These booths will have information about HIV, AIDS and World AIDS Day and also bags with AIDS ribbons and condoms, Leachman said.
“It is important to call students’ attention to this day,” Leachman said. “According to a 2005 statistic, HIV and AIDS is the No. 1 leading cause of death for African Americans ages 22 to 45.”
“I think a lot of students don’t think about the risk or don’t think college students can get it, and they are actually in more risky situations to contract HIV and AIDS,” Leachman added.
Bill Broyles, assistant vice president for student affairs, said the university is participating in the campaign to make students aware that HIV and AIDS are still a real danger.
“AIDS does not discriminate,” Broyles said. “We all have to be careful with our practices and aware of the risks that we face.”
Broyles said it is important to have campaigns such as this because the media coverage for HIV and AIDS is not as great as it used to be.
Jennifer Fuller, supervisor of health education, said the Day With(out) Art was well received by students last year.
“We got a lot of good feedback from the students,” Fuller said. “The biggest hurdle we had last year was the misconception that the artist or the subject had HIV or AIDS.”
Fuller said this is why the department of health education and wellness wants to stress that the covered art is just a symbolic gesture.
“A Day With(out) Art just calls you to think about the fact that AIDS is exterminating and inspiring artists at the same time,” Leachman said.
A Day With(out) Art is sponsored by the department of health education and wellness and Spectrum, a group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the MSU community.