Students will have the opportunity tomorrow to receive free, anonymous HIV oral testing.

They will also have the opporunity to become better educated about HIV and AIDS during the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Testing will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in HUB-Robeson Center rooms 208, 233 and 235, Simon Holowatz, community health educator for University Health Services, said.

Horowatz added that students don't need an appointment, though they should expect the test to take at least 20 minutes.

"[HIV tests are] not going on record," Holowatz said. "If parents call and ask us about it, we can't tell them."

The all-day event is being located mostly throughout the HUB, though interested students can participate in a discussion hosted by SISTA Circle from 6 to 8 p.m. in the East Halls Cultural Lounge.

Activities in the HUB will include a panel that plans on discussing how HIV has "directly or indirectly" affected people, Holowatz said.

The HUB Auditorium will also be hosting hip-hop dance ministry group Halal from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

University Health Services (UHS) is sponsoring the event to raise awareness, especially in the black community.

"We think we provide services in a culturally sensitive way," Holowatz said. "We see [the event] as a way in meeting our mission in serving all students."

The national event is an opportunity to provide students with additional education about the disease, Holowatz said.

According to a press release, New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are among the top 10 states in the United States with the highest number of black Americans who are estimated to be living with AIDS in the year 2005.

The District of Columbia also ranks in the top 10 list.

"People don't think of rural places as being hotbeds for HIV, but our students come from other places," Holowatz said.

"We need to find a way to address these issues in our community."

The event is hosted by UHS, Paul Robeson Cultural Center, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Black Caucus, HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Advisory Council as well as the National Pan-hellenic Council.