Low AIDS testing blamed on ignorance
BY JOSH FUNK
Fifteen years ago, when AIDS was just
becoming known, die commonly held mis
conception was that it only affected a certain
part of the population.
Science and the growing number of dead
and infected people from across the societal
spectrum disproved that notion quickly.
But that attitude still seems prevalent on
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
Among the booths at this year’s Big Red
Welcome was one promoting a new free and
anonymous HIV testing center on campus.
Some students responded by throwing
the flyers on the ground and stating “I don’t
need that. I’m not gay."
But nationally, women and teen-agers
are the fastest growing HIV-positive groups,
said Pat Tetreault, the University Health
Center’s Sexuality Education Program
Coordinator.
“People don’t see this affecting their
lives, so they ignore it,” Tetreault said.
National and local advertising cam
paigns have raised awareness of AIDS and
the virus that causes it, but it seems like peo
ple don’t know much beyond the acronyms,
said Brian Franz, who manages the testing
site.
HIV testing is important for people who
are doing things that put them at risle
“All the people who think they are not at
risk and are still out there having sex should
get tested,” Franz said.
About one out of every 300 people in
Nebraska is HIV positive, Franz said. On
UNL’s 22,000-student campus that would
equate to about 70 people.
Sex is one of the primary ways the dis
ease is transmitted. Casual sex, sex while
under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
unprepared sex are among the most danger
ous activities.
Intravenous drug use and sharing nee
dles is another dangerous activity.
The free-testing center, which operates
on a grant from the Nebraska Department of
Health and Human Services, is located in
Cornerstone Church, 640 N16^ St. Testing is
available on the second and fourth Fridays
of the month.
Franz, who completed his UNL bache- /
lor’s degree in May, has been operating the
center since June and said he has only tested
about a dozen people.
In addition to the testing, which is done
orally, Franz also offers some counseling.
Any questions he cannot answer, Franz
refers to other sources. And Cornerstone
offers pastoral counseling.
But thus far, students seem to prefer
ignorance, and they may not even realize
how unknowing they are.
“In general, most people don’t realize
how much they don’t know until they go to
something (program or presentation) more
comprehensive," Tetreault said.
That attitude extends beyond AIDS to
other sexually transmitted infections, and it
may be compounded by Nebraska’s relative
ly low population.
“I do think because we are a smaller pop
ulation state and don’t have the same aware
ness as cities, that affects us," Tetreault said.
Student's apartment hit by car
BUILDING from page 1
Inside, the Kongs’ felt the
bed pop up as the car pushed
the wall into their bedroom.
The I^ongs, who moved into
the building in August, quickly
exited their apartment to inves
tigate. Outside other neighbors
were tending to the
Deshpandes, who were both
wearing seatbelts, Benes said.
No major injuries were
reported in the crash, though
the Deshpandes were taken to
BryanLGH Medical Center West
for examination.
Another neighbor, Devinder
Sandhu, was turning left into
the apartment complex at the
same time Asha Deshpande was
turning in and saw the accident
-•V
happen.
Sandhu said that Asha
Deshpande was dazed after the
accident, but seemed all right.
Sandhu said that he had
gone with Murlidhar
Deshpande to buy the car two
months ago.
Benes said the ground-level
hole in the three-story building
should not cause any structural
problems because the building
has a steel structure.
The biggest concern was
when heat and water could be
restored because the car broke
several pipes on impact. The
building’s boiler-heated water
pipes were just filled Sunday
morning.
Building managers planned
to move the Kongs into a vacant
apartment within the same
building Sunday until repairs
could be made.
Damage estimates were
unavailable Sunday.
The University Park
Apartments provide housing for
married university students.
Currently, many of the residents
are international students,
Sandhu said.
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