Ribbons striped with green, red and black were worn with pride yesterday as students recognized the toll AIDS has taken on the black community.

Members of Black Caucus organized the day's events in observance of tomorrow's National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The programming included a student discussion devoted to raising awareness and searching for solutions to halt the epidemic.

"African Americans make up 13 percent of the national population," said Walter DeShields, political action chair of Black Caucus. "But 38 percent of all AIDS cases reported in the country are within the black community."

The disease has also taken a local toll. In Pennsylvania, more than 50 percent of the population diagnosed with AIDS and HIV are black, DeShields added.

These statistics should motivate students of all races to take action in the struggle against the sickness, he said.

"I want to encourage people to volunteer and help others with AIDS," DeShields said.

Students can aid the battle by educating themselves about the illness and donating their time to local organizations that work with those affected, he said.

"It's very hard to get a precise local estimate on how many people have been affected by the disease," said Maureen Mulenga, case manager for the AIDS Project, a local service.

The reason for the lack of documentation is because the Pennsylvania Department of Health did not keep records of people with the disease until October of last year, she said.

The AIDS Project works with a variety of people -- including families and single mothers -- who are affected by the illness. They provide access to local and national resources such as testing services, support groups and medical referrals, she said.

During Black Caucus' weekly discussion forum, Sankofa, students of the black community gathered to address misconceptions about the disease and propose future solutions on how they can combat the illness.

"The responsibility is on us to educate ourselves and our siblings," said Betsy Gekonge (graduate-biochemistry).

She said a major part of the fight is getting the black community to acknowledge the disease exists, and it affects everyone in the community.

Students also agreed misconceptions about the disease have to be addressed before progress can be made in the fight.

"It's really surprising, all the myths that people still believe," said Kristi McNew, an AIDS Project employee who spoke at the meeting.

"There are people that think the disease is airborne."

AIDS is most commonly transmitted by sexual intercourse and sharing needles, she added.

The day of awareness follows President Bush's recent proposal to commit $15 billion to the fight against the disease over the next five years.

DeShields said he is pleased the president recognizes the problem, but remains unsure about whether his plans will succeed.

"The consensus is, we will believe it when we see it," DeShields said.