Imagine 8,000 students, all of whom live on campus at University Park, disappearing in one day.

About 3.1 million people died from AIDS worldwide last year, or 8,000 per day, which is the ideal number of participants organizers would like to see attend a national rally in Washington, D.C. this Saturday, partly organized by Penn State students, in an effort to promote HIV/AIDS awareness.

"This is expected to be the largest march against the AIDS pandemic specifically for youth in the history of the United States," said Sean Barry, an organizer for the Student Global AIDS Campaign, a national, student-based group. "We want to dramatize how many people are killed by HIV/AIDS each day."

Barry said the group is organizing the march now because it is within the first 100 days of President George W. Bush's second term, and that Congress is in the process of setting the budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year, which allows the group to lobby for more funds.

Beth Hardy, president of the Penn State Global AIDS Initiative, said the goal is to get as many students as possible to attend.

"We want to create awareness, but also to influence how our country is handling the issue," Hardy said. "There's still more that can be done."

Cameron Lefevre (senior-information sciences and technology), one of 10 students who function as international partnership coordinators for the global day of action, said the government needs to play a more active role in fighting the AIDS pandemic.

"Bush has made considerable steps to prevent the spread of AIDS compared to past presidents," Lefevre said. "However, the efforts pale in comparison to what is actually needed."

Lefevre said there are five goals the campaign wants to promote during the march, some of which include funding the fight against HIV/AIDS, treating the disease and stopping it from spreading.

The event will feature former Penn State student and Who's Positive founder Tom Donahue, who will be returning to Penn State this summer.

Donahue formed the non-profit organization after he was diagnosed HIV-positive in October 2003.

A major theme for his speech will be about the life of Ryan White, a teenager who died of AIDS almost 15 years ago and who made headlines for his fight against the disease.

Donahue will be speaking about the importance of re-authorizing and demanding full funding for the Ryan White CARE (Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency) Act, guaranteeing access to affordable and effective health care, and preventing the hindrance of science by politics.

"People like Ryan White are strong individuals who really fight to make a difference in the world," Donahue said.

There will be buses departing Penn State at 6 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are on sale for $10 and can be purchased at the HUB-Robeson Center at a display table or by e-mailing Kevin Brehm at kfb117@psu.edu.