The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 41,851 people ages 15-24 have AIDS in the U.S. — enough to fill more than two thirds of Carter-Finley Stadium.

Student organizations and the University failed to promote Word AIDS Awareness Day Monday as much as they should have. This is unsettling because North Carolina has the ninth highest number of new cases of AIDS in the U.S., according to CDCP.

Students need to be aware about HIV/AIDS and not rely on stereotypes to avoid the disease.

AIDS is NOT just in Africa. HIV/AIDS does NOT just affect gay men. HIV/AIDS does NOT just affect intravenous drug users. HIV/AIDS  is a disease that affects everyone — not just a particular group — and everyone can get infected. Sexually-active people should be careful and take preventative measures so there is no risk of spreading HIV/AIDS.

A way to help the HIV/AIDS epidemic is to hold fundraisers. Student organizations could create new events similar to the Pack-a-thon dance marathon and Shack-a-thon to raise money for HIV/AIDS research.

Another way students could spread HIV/AIDS awareness is to get tested for the disease. Wake County Human Services offers HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease tests and the Student Health Center Web site has instructions for making an appointment. Gateway, an organization dedicated to informing people about pregnancy, abortion and sexual health, offers HIV/STD testing for free. If HIV is caught in its early stages, the people it affects can have healthy immune systems and lead healthy, active lives with treatment.

Even though having a day devoted to HIV/AIDS awareness is a good start to spreading the word about the epidemic, it should be a concern year-round. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to something as serious as HIV/AIDS. Get tested. There is no excuse not to get tested. Holding fundraisers are also ways to kill two birds with one stone: spreading HIV/AIDS awareness and raising money for research. More than 33 million people in the world have HIV, and if we become more aware, we can work together to stomp it out forever.