In honor of World AIDS Day and national AIDS Awareness month, Western and the Bowling Green community are hosting a number of activities.

Sunday is World AIDS Day. It is a day to educate the world’s population about the devastating disease.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2002 is “Stigma and Discrimination,” and its objective is to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among the world’s population.

The Bowling Green community will honor Sunday, Dec. 1, as a day of prayer and remembrance among Bowling Green churches.

On Monday and Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Western will provide a variety of educational resources and activities, including free HIV testing on the third floor of DUC.

Free testing is provided by WKU Health Services and Heartland Cares, a clinic in Paducah.

Kathryn Steward, WKU Health Services Coordinator, said anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and suggests they get tested.

The regular fee for HIV/AIDS testing at Western is $25. Health Services is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Musical guest “Lost River” will be perform at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Nite Class and “Floord” will perform at 8 p.m.

The World AIDS Day Planning Committee is also sponsoring the WKU AIDS Memorial Quilt Project. Individuals will create an AIDS memorial quilt panel and donate it Tuesday at the memorial interfaith service and candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. in DUC Theater.

Many people will also wear red ribbons, the international symbol for AIDS awareness, on Dec. 1 and throughout the month to remind others of the time and energy devoted to fight AIDS.