This past Friday, the Association of Students of African Origin, the Haitian American Student Association and members of the Art Student Union all joined together at University Crossing for a mutual cause; raising awareness for AIDS in Africa. The event was titled “No Face, No Race” and it aimed to educate Umass Lowell students on the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic in African countries. The students also hoped to call attention to the fact that, while AIDS does not discriminate based on race, origin, or nationality, the disease is more likely to infect and take the lives of black individuals than people of other races. In order to bring together the substantial range of nationalities and backgrounds here at Umass Lowell, members of the Art Student Union painted students’ faces with their respective flags of origin.

At 2 P.M. on the first floor of University Crossing the groups set up their donation table, tarps, chairs and bottles of paint. Students who participated paid a $2 donation fee for their face paint. After a student’s flag was painted on his or her face, he or she was photographed as part of a future mural to be displayed on the second floor of University Crossing. The artists painted several different flags including Ghana, Italy, Canada, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and the Dominican Republic while unique African popular music known as “Afrobeat” attracted passersby and contributed to the lively atmosphere.

All proceeds from the event went to Aid for Africa, a charity alliance comprised of over 50 United States-based nonprofit organizations and their African partners that works to help children, families, and communities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. The alliance includes organizations that provide support for an extensive list of developmental issues including education, health, agriculture, and microfinance, in addition to scientific research on topics such as food, pest control and livestock. This event contributed specifically to the African Aid Organization. This particular group focuses on educating communities in Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Uganda about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and prevention. When prevention is no longer an option, the organization provides children and adults infected with HIV/AIDS with healthcare, educational and vocational training and supplemental food.

With “No Face, No Race” ASAO, HASA and the ASU have demonstrated what student involvement at Umass Lowell encompasses. Their collaboration with other appropriate groups on campus to raise awareness of a worthy cause is both inspiring and admirable. ASAO president, Abigail Gingrande, explains that it is vital for Americans to become more thoroughly informed on the various issues facing African countries because “the news only shows small parts of the problem”. Students may think they know about the complications and challenges that infected individuals go through, but “No Face, No Race” has reminded Umass Lowell that contracting HIV/AIDS in Africa is far different from contracting it in America. “The education just isn’t there” says President Gingrande. This event and the students who organized it have not only offered the campus enlightenment on a compelling global issue, but have also proposed a medium through which students can actually support the cause. Vice President of HASA, Yetunde Bamgbose, says that she feels that “students may be aware, but not know how to help.” This engaging event has certainly served its purpose. However, as students have learned, the AIDS epidemic in Africa is still in dire need of attention. As Vice President of ASAO has said “Africa is not defined by the issues it faces”, but we as a university can all admire and contribute to the support that these students seek to provide.