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Page 2 •Thursday, April 13, 2006 NEWS The Pendulum Jako stresses choices in college are crucial From p, 1 “We live in a culture that is very privileged.” She said that she felt like no one could ever love her again and her biggest fear was infecting someone else. At 23, she met someone who was able to “look beyond her disease.” They have been together for nine years and are now expect ing a child. She said that one of the main things she grieved about was the thought of never being able to have a child. She said that she could never allow her and her husband to be unprotected, so they did an “artificial self insemination,” something Jako said was hard and complicated, but she also laughed while talking about the unique process. Jako has complete viral suppression and said studies show there is less than a 1 per cent chance that the disease can be transmit ted to her baby. “Everyone has risks when having a child and this is our risk we’re willing to take,” she said. “We will love and support our child no matter what happens.” Matjiua Kauapira, Elon’s Periclean-in- Residence from Namibia, attended Jako’s speech and also had lunch with her earlier in the day. Afterwards, she also attended Jacko’s Q&A session. During that session, Kauapira comment ed that she thinks Jako is very brave and complimented her on her courage. She also asked Jako what she would do if she died or was not able to be with her child for any other reason. Jako said she felt that was a good ques tion and said, “I’m going to try to be there as long as I can. I think of death as a part of life now. I accept death much more.” She said she has lost a lot of friends over the years and two of the people in the docu mentary have died. “I’m amazed to still be standing here today,” she said. “We’ve got to take care of ourselves and we’ve got to take care of each other more than ever before.” Kauapira was surprised about the status of HIV/AIDS in the United States. “I thought things were different here,” Kauapira said. “I thought there was less stigma.” Raquel Corona and Rachel Copeland, Periclean Scholars from the class of 2006, attended the event with Kauapira. Copeland said she feels the issue is cross-cultural. “It was special for her because m Wholly fif mCfi fnOiite^ lunch Specials 4.95 Huge projection screens in bar loin os for all NFL games! "Featuring" all your MextoaH Favorites plos Low Carb Menu, Fresh Saintoii, Sbriwp, Steaks and a Vegetarian Menu 171 0urllB8fonSqoariBMal{ PurllitgfDid ’T/ST ^ 6^07 Rd. Corner of Hwy 70 mi Rock Creek Palry ltd. StoHey Oreek ^56-446 6^00 Namibia it’s so much harder because it’s everywhere,” Copeland said. “It was also important for her to see Jako have so much courage, because in Namibia, the stigma attached to AIDS is very strong.” Corona said she thinks it is important that Elon students get to hear speakers like Jako. “It really brings it home,” she said. Jako told the students in the audience that they are in college because they have hopes and dreams for the future. She also said it is good health that makes these things that we dream about possible. “The choices you make right now can change your life,” she said. Contact Natasha Nader at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. Natasha Nader/ Photogapher jako was infected with HIV at age 18. She is now married and pregnant with her first child. HIVIMDS STATISTICS -By the end of 2005, 40.3 million people were living with HTV/AIDS, including 17,5 million women and 2.3 million children under the age of 15. -4.9 million people became infected with HIV in 2005, including 700,000 children. Of these, 3.2 million new infections occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. -In 2005 alone, a total of 3.1 million people die4 of HIV/AIDS-related causes. -Worldwide, only one in 10 persons infected with HIV has been tested and knows his/her HIV status. Facts gathered from Global Health CounciL BRING THIS COUPON Students I I I J ON ALL HONDA SOHEDULED MAINTENANCE H ^^^ SERVICE I DEPT. I HOURS: I M-F 7:30>6:00 SAT. 8:00-1:00 | Burlington Honda 30 YEARS 2926 S.CHURCH $T. BURLINGTON 5844870 ^.burlntohor^ BRING THIS COUPON
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