The soft glow of candles lit the Union Patio on Tuesday night as a group of students gathered together for a vigil, spelling “AIDS” with their candles.
“The candlelight vigil is not to mourn those who have died so much as it is to honor the work that has been done in the field,” said Candelario Saldana, a political science and gender studies major who helped organize the event, which commemorated AIDS awareness week.
The candlelight ceremony was preceded by guest speaker Kevin Packer, a local Utahn who has been HIV positive for 23 years.
Packer told the story of his struggle with HIV during the past two decades of his life in an extremely personal and eye-opening speech.
“It’s a manageable disease,” Packer said. “You learn to deal with it, live your life and move on. But it’s not any fun.”
Packer spoke of the battles he faced with AIDS medication during the years. Initially, he had to take 19 pills every four hours around the clock. Recently, medical research has improved and he is down to just a few pills once a day. Although the number of pills has been reduced, the horrible side effects are still a problem for him.
Beyond the physical side effects is the mental strain attached to the medicine.
“Every time I take my pills, it reminds me I have AIDS,” Packer said.
He also described the emotional trials he’s endured since learning he was HIV positiveemotions ranging from the initial shock of the diagnosis to the hurt he suffers from discrimination.
Although prejudice against HIV and AIDS patients exists everywhere, Packer said he feels Salt Lake City is worse compared to other cities he has lived in. Utah does not have as many support Web sites and communities as other states and is not as understanding or open to those living with HIV or AIDS, he said.
Packer’s speech was one of many efforts aimed to enlighten people about AIDS and open up communication and understanding about the disease and those inflicted with it.
Prior to the vigil, Saldana and others had been busy selling ribbons throughout the community for the Utah AIDS Foundation to help sponsor a family living with HIV. The students sold the ribbons through venues such as Jack Mormon Coffee and Beans and Brews.
“Right now, our goal is to raise $500,” Saldana said. “But Beans and Brews is hoping to sell 1,000 more ribbons.”
The Campus AIDS Project, which Saldana directs, has been a part of the Bennion Community Service Center for quite a while, but this is the first year the group has held a candlelight vigil.
Rachel Kellersberger, an economics major, said the speech and vigil were informative.
“I definitely learned a lot from the speaker,” Kellersberger said. “I had no idea everything involved with the disease8212;the amount of
pills, the side effects and the costs. It was pretty shocking.”
Kellersberger was also surprised at the poor turnout of the event. Saldana had been hoping for an audience of more than 100, but fewer than 20 people showed up.
“It was a powerful event,” Kellersberger said. “It’s a shame there weren’t more people there.”
Thien SokAs part of AIDS awareness week U students gathered for a candle light vigil in honor of the work that is being done for the disease.
Thien SokKevin Packer spoke during the AIDS awareness event held Tuesday night about how he has been living with the disease for twenty-three years.