FSU Hosts the Red Pump Project

On March 10, 2014 the annual National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS awareness day, also known as The Red Pump Project was in full effect.

On this day, women around the world don bright red stilettos to signify the importance of getting tested for HIV/AIDS. This event has been received worldwide, some of the locations being held in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and even Washington D.C.  This year, Frostburg State University recognized this national day.

“Every 47 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.” According to theredpumpproject.org, significant progress has been made in the area of HIV/AIDS. However, women still represent “twenty seven percent of all new AIDS diagnoses, with African American women representing 66 percent of that group.” The essence of this campaigns mission is to instill awareness in women today about AIDS awareness.  Unfortunately, for some women, contracting the HIV virus is still very prominent in today’s society.

Here at Frostburg State University, students gathered together to support this cause in the Lane University Center from 10-2 pm. Jen Cruz, a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion was able to be a part of this significant event. Cruz had this to say about #RocktheRedPump day, “At our table we had two posters with HIV awareness information, statistics, and information. We also had goodie bags with condoms, female and male to have a little variety. Inside the baggies was also information on where you can get tested, for those who need the information themselves or know people that think they might have become infected with HIV/AIDS.  Cruz also added, “We did get a good amount of to come support the cause and they liked the goodie bags we provided. “

Cruz stated, “I definitely did like the fact that some people that didn’t need the information, took it anyways for people that they thought would really need it. So I thought that was pretty cool that they supported others.  Also, some people who didn’t even know where they could be tested actually learned more about that.”

For more information about the #RocktheRedPumpEvent, please visit www.theredpumpproject.org.