Showing concern for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community and their allies (LGBTA) during Pride Week, the Office of Health Promotion and Education in Ritenour Building raised awareness for free HIV testing yesterday.

Getting tested for HIV should be a concern of every community on campus, SpeakOUT President Christina Swomley said.

"Like every community, our community is very concerned about the health of our community members," she said.

This is the first time the Office of Health Promotion and Education has conducted testing as a part of LGBTA Pride Week, and 56 students were tested today.

In honor of Pride Week, University Health Services and Panhellenic Council (PHC) co-sponsored the testing, Swomley said.

PHC backed the testing "as a show of support for other groups on campus that are not necessarily greek organizations," PHC Vice President of Communications Megan Moran said.

"I think it's good that we're reaching out to other groups on campus and they're willing to sponsor events during our Pride Week," Swomley said. "I think it may be surprising to some, but I think it's a great step."

Moran said she feels it's important to get tested to help stop the spread of HIV.

Krystin Burnette (senior-psychology), who is a student intern at Office of Health Promotion and Education who helped conduct the testing, agreed.

"If you're sexually active, you're always at risk," she said.

An HIV test takes about 15 minutes to complete and the results are kept confidential.

The actual testing part, which takes about two-and-a-half minutes, consists of an oral swab.

For the rest of the time, the tester educates about how HIV is transmitted and how to decrease risks.

The tests are then shipped to the Department of Health. Three weeks from the day the student was tested, he or she must come back to Ritenour for the results.

HIV testing at Ritenour is always free for students.

Swomley encourages everyone to get tested, regardless of his or her community.

"If it's provided right here, no better time to get tested than now."