LoCAL/STATE The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 5, 1997 - 5 Candles flght way to hope, healing ByM~ Extey Daily Staff Reporter Candles reminded last night's crowd ofthe light that AIDS victims brought totihe world. About 40 people gathered at Ann Arbor's First Congregational Church for a candlelight vigil and musical cele- bration in memory of those afflicted by HIV/AIDS. T h e "Service for >; Hope in the Face ofAIDS" areness was one of Febr ary 1-8 Week many events in the University's AIDS Awareness Week. After a symbolic march to the church from the Michigan Union, the program culminated with music, ritual and er from various faith traditions. ast year I was too sick to partici pate,' said John Russo, a local resident suffering from AIDS. "But support like this is very important in the day-to-day struggle of those infected.' "There can never be enough support organizations," Russo said. Russo said his church and the HIV/AIDS Research Center, one of the sponsors of last night's event, played instrumental roles in his life. his was the fourth year the vigil and march have been held. "This year's turnout for the event was smaller than in previous years," said Tom Frank, president of the HIV Resource Center. "Usually this march is held in con- junction with World AIDS Day, Dec. 1," Frank said. "However, this year, with the Thanksgiving break falling that par- t fiar weekend, we figured that mst Uple Would be Out of town. While the majority of those who par- ticipated were local residents, several University students also attended. "I don't think that the lack of student participation tonight is due to lack of concern over AIDS, just timing and logistics," said LSA junior Chris Cielinski. "I think the weather is a fac- tor too." The program had an atmosphere of Obration and encouragement, with little kids playing tag around the church pews and friends greeting each other with embraces. "Some of us have lost so many friends and loved ones, we are numb," the Rev. Fran Mayes of the Tree of Life Metropolitan Community Church said to the audience. "Remembering these AIDS Memorial Quilt to unfold at 'U' building By Brian Campbell Daily Staff Reporter Flooded by statistics and warnings about the dangers of A IDS, students can witness a personal testimony to the disease's victims this week. The Names Project/AIDS Memorial Quilt is expected to come to the University's Track and Tennis Building tomorrow evening with a ceremony featuring the Ann Arbor Boy's Choir. The Ann Arbor Jaycees Foundation and the University's Athletic Department are sponsoring the quilt display. This is the first time the memo- rial quilt has been brought to Ann Arbor, and coordinators plan to display it until Sunday evening. Dave Lieber, a coordinator of the Jacyees quilt planning committee, said Washtenaw County has the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the state. "The Ann Arbor community needs this display as another tool to fihit the spread ofAIDS," Lieber said. "The size of the display, over 1,800 panels, is ideal because it is large enough to make an impact on people's lives, but not too large that you can't spend time getting to know most of the people whose lives are commemorated on the quilt." Lieber said that viewing the quilt is an effective way to remind people to practice safer sex because it delivers a more poignant message than imperson- al statistics. "The quilt puts a name on the endless statistics," Lieber said."It gives the stu- dents a feeling like they know someone who has died of AIDS because of the life stories that the quilt possess."' Donations from the display will go toward supporting the IllIV/A IDS Resource Center, a Washtenaw County auercy that educates and provides ser- vices for local residents living with the disease. The idea to bring the quilt to Ann Arbor came from the Jaycees Foundation's involvement in a 1995 dis- play at Oakland Community College. The volunteers have spent a year planning this year's project, which was facilitated by the University Athletic Department when its officials waived the standard fees to lease the Track and Tennis Building. The memorial quilt presentation, which is part of the University's AIDS Awareness Week, will be on display from 7-10 p.m. tomorrow, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from I l a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. WARREN ZINN/Daily Greg Kukuk performs his solo during the AIDS vigil at the Ann Arbor First Congregrationai Chruch last night. individuals is a necessary part of our grieving." "We must let the strength and courage of those who have died inspire us to go on and continue life" Mayes said. Frank said the event was rescheduled for this week to coincide with the bring- ing of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to Ann Arbor tomorrow. "A lot of LSA junior Bernard Cherkasov, head of AHAVA, a Jewish gay and lesbian support organization, said he came to the event to support members of the community with HIV and AIDS. "I also came to remember friends and loved ones who have died from the dis- ease," Cherkasov said. He also expressed hope that this week's events will people have made an e m o- 1ional Commit- nent to the quilt," Frank. said. "We'll only have a piece of it here, yet it will fill up the entire display area of the Track and T e n n i s Building. The entire quilt is over 40,000 panels." Cielinski said 41Remembering these individuals is a necessary part of our grieving" - The Rev. Fran Mayes Tree of Life Metropolitan Community Church further the aware- ness of University stu- decits about the danger o A IDS. "As students, we have the edu- cation we know the danger, at least we s h o u I d , Cherkasov said. "But too often it seems that (young people) think they are invincible, that they won't get t events like these this disease. "My hope is tha he anticipates more student involvement when the quilt goes on display . "Tonight was more or less a kick-off for the rest of the week," Cielinski said. will help get the message across that AIDS is not a disease that discrimi- nates," Cherkasov said. "Anyone can become a victim." __j M ICHIGAN STUDENT ASSEMBLY WINTER ELECTIONS ARE MARCH 19th & 20th All candidates interested in running for a seat on MSA should pick up a candidates' packet at 3909 Michigan Union. Office hours are 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday- Friday. Packets will be available on February 12, 1997. Election Schedule: Feb. 12 Feb. 21 Feb. 26 Feb. 28 Mar. 3 Mar. 5 -Candidates' packets are available -Final polling sites are posted -Packets and links are due -Deadline for filing Candidacy 5:00 pm -Deadline for party declaration 5:30 pm -Election Court certifies candidates -Candidates' meeting -Deadline for Candidate withdrawal -Sample ballot posted for review 5:00 pm -Ballots reviewed by Election Court Mar. Mar. 6 7 Mar. 19&20 ELECTIONS! Thanks to ITD and some hard working individuals, this semester you will be able to cast your votes C, - - -.-- ~ ~ j~****4~