Queer Alliance and College Hill for Christ will co-sponsor free, anonymous HIV testing Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m in the Salomon Center.
AIDS Care Ocean State, a Rhode Island-based support group for AIDS patients, will provide the oral tests in addition to staff support, said QA Co-President Josh Teitelbaum '08.
Teitelbaum said he expects a large turnout for the event because the HIV testing available at Health Services is "confidential, but not anonymous," and students' insurance companies are charged a laboratory fee, which could potentially show up on statements that are mailed to parents. Also, the tests on Saturday are oral, while Health Services' tests require drawing blood.
The two groups have worked together to promote the event, will help staff it and will each make a monetary donation to AIDS Care Ocean State, Teitelbaum said.
A Feb. 23 Herald article incorrectly reported that QA and College Hill for Christ would co-sponsor an HIV testing event. When The Herald corrected the story the following day, the two groups were still not working together. Since then, Alana Rabe '08, a member of QA's Community Subgroup who is also a member of College Hill for Christ, proposed that the two groups work together after all, Teitelbaum said. He added that, because of the nature of QA's organization, subcommittees are given a great deal of autonomy for "special projects."
"Subcommittees can make whatever alliances they will. It still could raise questions for some members of our community, but for others it's great. I think it's a great thing," Teitelbaum said.
"CHC wants to co-sponsor this event because it gives us an opportunity to become involved with groups we haven't been involved with before," Rabe said. "There's been a common misunderstanding that our group wouldn't want to be involved with the QA, and this gives us the opportunity to work with them."
Teitelbaum said he expects QA to work with religious organizations again in the near future, though he does not know if or when it will partner specifically with College Hill for Christ. Rabe said she thinks the two groups will be able to work with each other in the future.
"This event allows both our groups to demonstrate our concern for the health of the Brown community," Rabe said.
