AIDS

June 3, 2011 - 12:07am
This year marks 30 years since the first official documentation of AIDS in the United States. People living with HIV or AIDS or involved with the cause in Syracuse share their thoughts on what has become of this disease nowadays.

Less activism, less media coverage, and AIDS patients looking healthy. Everything seems to indicate that AIDS is a disease of the past or belonging to a third-world country.

“People have become complacent. Now, the general consensus is that I’ll just take a pill and I’ll be fine,” said Joe Carpenter, who has been living with HIV for the last 28 years.

October 21, 2009 - 11:39pm
Health educator Scott Fried delivers a frank talk on sexual relationships and protecting yourself from HIV/AIDS.

“I need you all to stay awake. If you fall asleep you’ll really miss out on something great.”

Perched on the edge of the Goldstein Auditorium stage Wednesday night, Scott Fried began his talk to 250 Syracuse University students with that opening line. 

Fried was infected with HIV in 1987. The national public speaker and health educator has made it his mission for the past 18 years to help others protect themselves from the disease.