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HATE CRIME
FROM PAGE 1
Bindra -a Sikh from India.
All three pled guilty Dec. 7 in
Orange County Superior Court to
both assault charges which result
ed in jail and probation time for all
three in exchange for the intimi
dation charge being dropped.
HABITAT
FROM PAGE 1
of the Cross church, stood in a dirt
streaked street nearby, astonished
by the sight.
“This is amazing. It’s amazing,”
DeSaix said. “Wow!”
Such was the mood at the cul
mination of Blitz Build, a yearlong
project headed by UNC Habitat
to build a home for a University
employee in just three days.
The event, which took place
from Friday to Sunday in the Rusch
Hollow neighborhood in Chapel
Hill, brought together about
140 volunteers with supervisors
from Orange County Habitat for
Humanity and AmeriCorps.
The event, which has not been
done on campus since 1998, has
been in the works for a year.
Habitat and other organizations
have raised about $56,000 of the
$60,000 needed to build the home
for University employee Linda
Parson and her children Isiah, 5,
and Imani, 4.
University students and faculty,
with members of Habitat’s part
nership with Chapel of the Cross
and various campus institutions,
as well as Parson herself, spent
their weekend working morning
and afternoon shifts constructing
the home.
Volunteers, many of whom had
never worked on a construction
site, found themselves hammering
down flooring, raising walls, gluing
LIVING
FROM PAGE 1
lives in Chapel Hill, got infected.
She grew up in a “tight-knit, mid
dle-class family” but had always
had a wild streak.
“When I drank, I was the show of
the party,” said Tara, who request
ed that her last name not be used.
“In high school, I would rather do
drugs than learn. I was so daredevil
and always had lots of friends.”
One of those friends gave her the
virus.
“I didn’t know how to develop a
friendship with men without sleep
ing with them,” she said.
Following her diagnosis, she
spent three years of “complete
denial” mired in a self-destructive
drug habit before accepting the
virus as a part of her life.
For the past six years, the only
drugs she has taken are the medi
cations that keep her viral load
“undetectable.”
Tara is now a peer educator at
a hospital, where she helps others
cope with the virus. She also speaks
at colleges to promote awareness.
Her four-year relationship with
her fiance is a testimony to her
faith in education.
“I told him immediately,” she said.
“I don’t think he really knew what it
was at first, so I had to educate him.
His family knows now, and they’ve
shown nothing but love.”
She stressed that her life doesn’t
revolve around the virus. “It’s not
like I wake up every morning going,
‘Oh my God, I have HIV,’” she said.
“I’m in school trying to graduate,
have a nice home, some money in
the bank and a career.”
But HIV did change everything
—most of all Tara herself.
“My ambition is triple what it’s
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Cousins said Friday that because
there was little description provid
ed on the suspects in that morn
ing’s hate crime, the investigation
has produced no leads.
There were still no leads
Sunday.
The police encourage anyone
with information relating to the
incident to call the department at
“This is a very important University
community relationship. And I’d like to
see this being extended.”
ARCHIE ERVIN, ASSISTANT TO THE CHANCELLOR AND DIRECTOR OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
windows and scaling rooftops dur
ing the weekend.
“I think it’s amazing,” said vol
unteer coordinator Stephanie
Bright.
“It’s a little scary, too, but that’s
why we have all this skilled labor
here to make sure everything goes
just right.”
Friday began as volunteers and
supervisors nailed flooring onto
the house’s foundation and built
the walls that would be raised the
following day.
Over the next few days, what
began as a simple concrete founda
tion slowly molded into the outline
of a house, as volunteers and work
ers pieced together the wooden
skeleton and put up walls.
By Sunday afternoon, students
were setting the windows in place
and walking across the black
tarped rooftop.
“It was scary at first, but after
a while, you begin to feel more
comfortable,” said senior Rohit
Bhandari.
“It was a lot like being on a sail
boat for the first time.”
Despite the apprehension
Bhandari and others initially felt,
the volunteers were eager to build,
ever been,” she said. “There’s no
telling what life I might have been
living right now. I would never
have quit doing drugs.”
Tara implores people to learn
about the disease and their part
ners. “If the guy doesn’t want to
use a condom, or the woman’s not
asking you, you got to ask yourself,
What’s going on here?’” she said.
Tara said most people have prob
ably been in that situation.
“HIV is out there on college
campuses,” said Dr. Charles van der
Horst, professor of medicine at the
University. “What’s clever on its part
is that it feeds into people’s percep
tions that they’re not at risk.” ’
Van der Horst has been treating
HIV/AIDS in North Carolina for
more than 20 years. During that
period, researchers have made
mixed progress against the virus.
“We can now tell people that
they’ll live a normal lifespan if they
take their drugs,” he said. “But we’ve
not made any impact in decreasing
the number of new cases.”
Of 4.9 million people newly
infected last year, UNAIDS estimates
that 44,000 were in North America.
Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts
for 3.1 million of those cases.
Thirteen years after her diag
nosis, Elizabeth Gordon fights the
epidemic at the United Nations
in South Africa. With 5.3 million
estimated cases, it is the hardest
hit country in the world.
“Empowerment” is a word she
uses constantly when telling her
story; the power to resist the stig
ma, to ask for a condom, to live a
normal life.
Her strength stems from her
faith in God and her belief that, as
a monogamous, married woman,
her infection was no fault of hers.
At first she kept silent about her
From Page One
968-2760.
“I’m still honestly in a certain
state of disbelief,” Ruskey said
about the incident.
“This is not something that I
would ever have foreseen happen
ing in Chapel Hill.”
Contact the City Editor
at citydesk@unc.edu.
said construction supervisor Tyler
Momsen-Hudson from Orange
County Habitat.
“That’s what people want,”
Momsen-Hudson said. “They want
to come out here to have some
thing to do.”
The event has potential to forge
stronger town-gown relations in
Chapel Hill, said Archie Ervin,
assistant to the chancellor and
director of minority affairs.
“I just think that this is a very
important University-community
relationship,” Ervin said after a
brief dedication ceremony at noon
Saturday. “And I’d like to see this
being extended in some meaning
ful ways.”
Others such as sophomore Kelly
Walker, who was there with 10 of
her fellow members from Zeta Tau
Alpha sorority, say the Blitz Build
has another important long-term
goal.
“I think it’s (important) for a
family to have not just a house, but
a home,” Walker said. “Your whole
life feels more in order if you have
a home.”
Contact the Features Editor
atfeatures@unc.edu.
condition in respect of her husband’s
wishes. Then in 1994, Bernice was
bom. The woman who took her own
diagnosis stoically was thrown into
anguish by her child’s.
“I wasn’t empowered enough,”
she said. “I should have looked for
more information (on the virus).”
The couple separated in 1996,
and Gordon hasn’t stopped talk
ing since. Everywhere she goes, she
tries to leave a message about HIV.
Many people have thanked her for
informing them about it, she said.
“HIV and poverty go hand in
hand,” said Gordon, talking of young
girls turning to prostitution to sur
vive. “People aren’t scared knymore."
They say, ‘I don’t care as long as my
stomach is full, and AIDS takes
time to kill me anyway.’”
Her own low point came last
year, not because of illness, but due
to financial strains. Bernice had an
infection and needed medicine she
could not afford.
“I stood by the pharmacy, and
my tears were dropping,” Gordon
said. “I thought, ‘Oh, my child,
you need this antibiotic.’ At night
I lay in bed thinking, ‘To hell with
this life. Maybe we should just kill
ourselves.’”
Bernice already has joined her
Duke University Medical Center
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MARCH
FROM PAGE 1
treatment and prevention will be
heard.
“Asa democracy, we have the
ability to influence policy,” said
Rachel Fischoff, president of UNC’s
chapter of the Student Global AIDS
Campaign, the national sponsor of
the march. “And as U.S. citizens,
we have not only the ability but the
responsibility to change things.”
During the rally, students said the
federal government hasn’t reached
its potential to alleviate the crisis.
They marched from the White
House to Capitol Hill, rallying for
debt cancellation, production of
cheaper medication through fair
trade, comprehensive sex education,
more money for the global AIDS
fund and continuation of the Ryan
White CARE Act, which meets the
health care needs of AIDS patients.
UNC students hope their partici
pation will motivate those on cam
pus. “It’s incredible to me it’s not
more in the spotlight at UNC,” said
junior Kelley Haven, who attended
the march. “People just don’t seem
to know anything about it”
Haven’s interest in the epi
demic was piqued in a public
policy course. Now she works at a
Carrboro AIDS home, is directly
involved in HIV vaccine trials at
UNC Hospitals and helps fund
AIDS treatment in communities
in Uganda and Malawi.
“AIDS is an issue that once you
become involved, it just drags you
in,” Haven said. “Once you know
the basic facts, there’s no way you
can turn away from it.”
A fall 2003 semester of study
abroad in South Africa, where
many students interned with
groups that combat AIDS, inspired
three students to bring the move
ment to UNC. Fischoff and seniors
Annie Bachrach and Michi Nair
mother’s efforts against AIDS. In
2001, they visited nine African
countries with World Vision, a
Christian relief organization, where
she spoke to other children.
They look forward to visiting
the United States this year to raise
funds for Children on the Frontline,
a community initiative that helps
poor children at risk, and to speak
ing at the “Narratives of HIV” event
organized by the UNC Student
Global Health Committee.
Gordon cannot say whether
or not her daughter understands
what it is to have HIV only that
Bernice is at the age to discover
fdf feerselfwhd shejs and tofind
strength in that.
Haffivavhcmss the wortd, vander
Horst also stressed the importance
of finding strength in oneself.
He attributes the spread of HIV
to discrimination against the under
privileged especially women, who
in many parts of the world lack the
power to protect themselves.
“Roughly speaking, if we could
empower women across the plan
et, the epidemic would stop tomor
row.”
Contact the Features Editor
atfeatures@unc.edu.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2005
co-founded a local chapter of the
global campaign the next semester,
said Bachrach, who organized UNC
students’ travel to the rally.
The chapter has spent the past
year trying to educate the student
body about AIDS but will take
steps toward becoming more polit
ical, UNC senior Kavitha Kolappa
said during a workshop she helped
lead for Sunday’s Youth Summit
to End AIDS. “Our focus has been
mostly awareness,” Kolappa said.
Students framed AIDS as a
social justice issue, not just a health
problem. Pre-march speakers such
as Kolappa, a member of SGAC’s
national steering committee,
stressed that those most affected by
AIDS are those most often denied
access to medication and education
minorities, women and the poor.
“The privilege I’ve been afford
ed in the First World comes at
the expense of the Third World,”
Kolappa told the crowd. “I don’t
want my daily Starbucks if my coun
terparts in the Third World can’t
afford medication and condoms.”
Dismissing “band-aid” solutions,
ralliers said the problem is rooted in
the structure of the world economy.
A June meeting of the world’s richest
nations, the G 8 Summit, likely will
begin a process of canceling debts
MARATHON
FROM PAGE 1
Hospital eclipsing last year’s
total by more than $14,000.
“It’s a combination of the
increased devotion of students and
our increased presence on campus,”
said Marketing Chairwoman Allison
Boothe, who shouted the total excit
edly to a friend on her cell phone.
“The success of the marathon can
only be measured in perspiration,”
she added, wiping her forehead.
But the money raised only repre
sents a portion of the event’s success
and the efforts of those involved.
Committee leaders estimated
that almost 2,000 people includ
ing dancers, moralers, volunteers
and spectators turned out for this
year’s marathon. Even former coor
dinators came to show support.
“The energy in the room was out
of control,” said alumna Haley West,
who served as overall coordinator
in 2004. “It’s not the only worthy
organization on campus, but it’s
certainly an awesome cause.”
Other student organizations
graced the stage throughout the
24 hours, entertaining enthusias
tic but weary dancers. Groups such
as the Loreleis, The Capulets and
• Inversions helped pass the early
morning hours.
Fi>:“J3fe.moralers and entertain
ment are what’s going to get me
through the next 20 hours,” said
fund-raising committee member
Brooke Bitler late Friday night.
In addition to the grueling 24
hours of dancing that brought the
marathon to an end, fund-raising
efforts included a UNC ONE Card
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owed by some poor countries.
“The pivotal issue now is the fight
for debt cancellation,” said senior
Marce Abare, coordinator of inter
national partnerships for SGAC’s
steering committee. “It’s either going
to come off this year or not.”
Abare’s planning helped make
the march part of a worldwide
movement Saturday called Global
Day of Youth Action, which includ
ed a meeting of nongovernmental
organizations in India and a rally
of 15,000 students in Cameroon.
Students hoped to show their
disapproval of President Bush’s
proposed plan to cut funding for
the global AIDS fund and to give
sls billion to 14 countries through
the President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief. One-third of that
money will go toward abstinence
only education, Kolappa said.
The mobilization against AIDS
might follow in the tradition of rad
ical youth-led reforms such as the
civil rights movement, she said.
“It’s a really big deal because the
march was completely organized
by students,” she said. “We’re at a
pivotal point in history. It could be
a watershed moment.”
Contact the State £2 National
Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
push week in October followed by
a local concert and date auction
in November. “We’re uniting the
campus,” Shalen said. “And we’re
helping so many people.”
The marathon’s proceeds are
contributed to the For the Kids
Fund, which goes to the Children’s
Hospital.
Dance Marathon committee
members announced that 356 fami
lies have been helped in the last 2
1/2 months, thanks in part to the
217 Food Lion cards, 1,390 phone
cards, $51,141 for bills and $23,619
for transportation that has been
donated to the For the Kids Fund.
Many families who are being
helped by the Dance Marathon
funds circulated the gym late
Saturday afternoon. They were
met with smiles and tears.
“They’re thanking us,” said Jeff
Simpson, whose daughter, Rebecca
Simpson, is in remission from
acute myeloid leukemia.
“But we’re thanking them.”
Rebecca’s family members said
they were gratefiil for the dinners
and phone cards provided to them.
“These students are doing
something for people they don’t
know and will probably never
meet,” Rebecca said. She nodded
in agreement when her father
referred to the Dance Marathon
as a huge labor of love.
“We got to see their faces. The
marathon made it personal,” said
sophomore dancer Brett Gantt. “It
was a painful 24 hours. But I have
no doubt it was worth it.”
Contact the Features Editor
atfeatures@unc.edu.
5