Millions of people worldwide have died of AIDS since the epidemic began in the early 1980s, and members of the Global AIDS Initiative plan to raise awareness about the deadly virus during an all-day event tomorrow.

World AIDS Day, which will take place at Penn State in HUB Alumni Hall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., is an international day to recognize that HIV/AIDS is a public health issue that has impacted communities throughout the world, said Susan Kennedy, University Health Services (UHS) associate director.

"It's an important day because it gives the community an opportunity to reflect on a health and social concern that is fairly invisible the rest of the year," she said.

Katie Koehler, Global AIDS Initiative vice president of awareness, said tables will be set up for nearly every Penn State college to show how HIV/AIDS affects job opportunities within each major.

"We're trying to show that AIDS affects every Penn State student," Koehler (sophomore-kinesiology) said. "It's not something that just happens in Africa. It happens here, too."

The left side of Alumni Hall will be dedicated to remembering victims of AIDS. Hanging on the wall will be a part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, made up of 20 different squares decorated by friends and family members of people who have died from AIDS.

"The quilt is an amazing thing to see, and even if students stop in for five minutes to look at it, that would be touching," Christina Cooke (sophomore-nursing) said.

The quilt is large -- each square is 12 feet by 12 feet and holds four patches.

"Usually, the quilt is on the floor, but we took it upon ourselves to hang it because we wanted it to be visible so everyone could see the entire thing," Koehler said. "We're going to have two rows of quilts because it is so big."

The Global AIDS Initiative organized the event, but other student organizations will have tables dedicated to activism and awareness. The HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Advisory Council (HARRAC) will be giving out free condoms at their "access to protection" table.

"Students can fill out a form to get condoms for the members of their organizations, but they can take individuals for themselves, too," Koehler said.

Cooke, a member of HARRAC, said the council will also be providing information about free HIV testing.

As part of the advocacy aspect of the event, students will be able to write letters to congressmen regarding the AIDS epidemic, explained Beth Hardy (junior-economics), Global AIDS Initiative president.

"A lot of people our age don't know that they can contact people in Congress, and we want them to have that option available to them," she said.

Hardy said people may want to write to ask for more funding or changes in policy, as well as to encourage senators to continue the work they have done so far to reduce the spread of the virus.

The table will also have information about where many politicians stand on the issues surrounding AIDS.

There will also be several films playing throughout the day, including A Closer Walk, which depicts the ways in which AIDS has affected various communities all over the world, Kennedy said.

"It encourages people to work together to find creative ways to address AIDS," she added.

Cooke said she expects a good turnout for World AIDS Day.

"It's in a central location, and I think it will catch students' attention," she said. "On a college campus, people don't feel like HIV/AIDS affects them, and [this event] is a reminder for students that it can and does affect people our age."

Students who still want to learn more about HIV/AIDS after the event can log on to an online chat on the UHS Web site (www.sa.psu.edu/uhs) Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., Kennedy said.

Students will be able to ask questions that will be answered by a clinician, a health educator and a former Penn State student who has HIV, Tom Donohue.

Donohue, a volunteer and affiliate through UHS, said the chat is an open forum, and the topics discussed will depend on what students ask.

He said he wants people to understand what it is like to be a person living with HIV.

"The chat will give people the opportunity to think outside the box and think about things people don't necessarily consider, like taking medications for HIV, dating and how to tell your family," Donohue said. "The best part about the chat is that you can come in without being identified or having to feel embarrassed about asking questions."