Action Opportunity and World AIDS Week Events

this week we are cosponsoring a film screening and hosting a vigil as part of World AIDS Week. Check out the full list of events around campus below.

Also, you can take action on a vitally important push to prevent automatic spending cuts to AIDS programs by calling your members of Congress with the following script:

Find your member of congress here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
and their DC number here:

“Hello, my name is _______ from _______ and am calling as a member of the Student Global AIDS Campaign.
Please inform Representative/Senator ______ that I strongly oppose any cuts to domestic and global HIV/AIDS programs that will result if sequestration occurs at the beginning of January. Specifically, I urge Representative/Senator ______ to demand zero cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, Ryan White Care programs, and Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA).

Fighting HIV/AIDS is a fully bipartisan issue with strong support from the highest levels of leadership in both the Republican and Democratic parties. At a time when we have the tools and expert consensus to foresee an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic due to breakthrough science, America cannot afford to go back on its pledge to realize an AIDS-free generation. Cutting foreign assistance for global health will not help us balance our budget but will compromise the lives of millions around the world instantly. Scaling back on our cost-effective programs will weaken global economic development while threatening our national security. A decade of critical investment and American leadership cannot fail now after significant evidence-based progress. We ask that you speak out publicly against any potential cuts and commit to fully funding these life-saving programs.”

Wednesday, 11/28

How to Survive a Plague Film Screening
November 28, 2012, 7:00 to 9:30 pm
Italian Academy at Columbia

The film screening will open with a special introduction featuring leading HIV/AIDS activists, including Mark Harrington of TAG and Peter Staley of AIDSmeds (who are both featured in the film) along with ICAP Director Wafaa El-Sadr and Laura Pinsky, founder of the Gay Health Advocacy Project.

How to Survive a Plague is the story of the young men and women who successfully reversed the tide of the AIDS epidemic, demanded the attention of the nation and stopped AIDS from becoming a death sentence.

Reserve your seat to today at http://bit.ly/wad2102.
View the trailer at http://surviveaplague.com/trailer

Thursday, 11/29

Columbia University Epidemiology Scientific Symposium
Eradicating Pediatric HIV: Hype vs. Hope
November 29, 2012
8:30 am – 5 pm
Teatro Room, Italian Academy
RSVP at cuess.org
Lunch will be provided

The symposium series brings together leaders in the field for a full day of discussions on pressing health questions of our time. The topic this year will focus on eradicating pediatric HIV.

Saturday, 12/1 — World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day Luncheon 

Hosted by BSO, Delta Sigma Theta, Columbia NAACP  12PM – Saturday, December 1 – Lerner C555
A discussion on AIDS as a relevant and pertinent disease affecting communities within the African Diaspora. The event will consist of guest speakers, performances, and food. FREE CHIPOTLE.

Vigil for People from Columbia Community who have died of AIDS-related causes
8 PM in Lerner C555

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From our friends at the Washington Heights CORNER Project:

Seven Years In Heaven: A WHCP Benefit
Tuesday, December 4th 6-10 p.m.
Cielo Nightclub
18 Little West 12th Street, NYC

Cielo Nightclub has donated their event space and open bar at no cost to WHCP. We will also be rocking a great Silent Auction and have a WHCP merch table.
100% of ticket sales and silent auction purchases will go directly to Washington Heights CORNER Project!

Please purchase your tickets online via Charity Happenings- http://whcp_7_years_in_heaven.charityhappenings.org/ Early-bird, group and special-admission tickets are available.
We apologize that our ticketing pages does not work on phone browsers, please use your computer for a hassle-free check out experience.

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Ongoing: CU Dance Marathon

Columbia University Dance Marathon is an event unlike any other on campus that gathers clubs, teams, greek life, singers, and dancers to benefit the work of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.  CUDM wants to celebrate all EGPAF has done to stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV here in the U.S. and around the world.
Now is your chance to be a party of something great!

Follow the link here and select on “form a team.” You’ll get to create a team name and a fundraising goal. Then you go through the steps, throw down your first fundraising dollars ($20). Templates are available to send out to family and friends to help you reach your goal of raising $500.

You can also join as an individual. Click here and click on “register as an individual.” You’ll get to choose between dancer and moraler and create a fundraising goal.
Little descriptions to help you-
Dancers: Commit to being at the event for the full 18 hours and raising $500. Woo!

Moralers: If you or a friend really wants to jump on board with CUDM but can’t commit to the 18 hours, although we really want you there the whole time, we’d love to see you for 3 hours during the marathon! Your fundraising goal is $150, and you’re only there for 3 hours. 

If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail [email protected]