On the first day of each December, people from all over the world turn their attention to HIV and AIDS for World AIDS Day.

Members of the Pullman community are encouraged to participate in the various activities taking place this Tuesday around the WSU campus.

On Tuesday, the Cougar Health Awareness Team will provide free HIV testing in Butch’s Den in the CUB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Whitman County Health Department will also be conducting free Hepatitis B and C testing.

“Last year, I think they had about 50 people who got tested, and the goal is to hopefully get more this year,” said Brandi Whitaker, graduate student coordinator for CHAT. “It’s always our goal to raise HIV awareness and get more people tested on campus.” Testing has been going on for the last five or six years at the Health and Wellness Center for free with a scheduled appointment.

Whitaker said that people sometimes prefer to get tested at the center because it is more confidential. However, at outreaches like World AIDS Day, people don’t have to wait for their results and can have the support of friends.

“The testing that gets done here gets sent off to a lab, so it takes two weeks to get the results,” she said. “But when we do outreaches and World AIDS Day, we use rapid testing so people get their results that same day.” Whitaker said that World Aids Day events last year were more united because they were able to bring in the AIDS quilt.

“It’s a quilt that represents people who are either living with AIDS or who have died from HIV and AIDS,” she said. “I think it was started by people who are affiliated with Harvey Milk.” The AIDS quilt is a national symbol that is passed around to people for World AIDS Day. Because the quilt is not here, World AIDS Day will not be as organized this year as in years past. However, the quilt will be back next year.

AIDS is known to be one of the most serious diseases currently facing society. According to the National AIDS Trust, this disease claims more than 8,000 lives every day, 6,000 of whom are children.

ACTS is an RSO and college chapter of World Vision, an organization that aims to help end poverty, injustice, and human suffering. Tuesday night at 6 p.m., they will be hosting an event called 6,000 Steps for 6,000 Orphans. Participants will walk about three miles or 6,000 steps around the WSU campus and surrounding neighborhoods to advocate for children who are orphaned by AIDS.

“It would be cool to see people come out,” said Kimberly Ellis, a sophomore microbiology major and ACTS member. “It’s not about a money thing but more like empowering kids our age to have a voice. When we do get out of college, we can do something about it.” Ellis said students are an alternative generation with the ability to make a difference.

“It’s our responsibility as students and as global citizens to take action against this,” she said.