The American College Health Association estimates that one in 500 college students nationwide is HIV positive.
"Some people become complacent and they view it as only people in Africa. 'Only people in Africa have AIDS and it doesn't affect me here.' That's just not the case," Burridge said. "There are a lot of people with affected family members and people they know."
Student Global AIDS Campaign and national non-profit Hope's Voice have arranged for GW to be the first stop on the "Road to Hope" tour, sponsored by a coalition of HIV/AIDS service providers, advocacy groups and research organizations.
Prevention Works' Program Manager Ron Daniels said drug users and substance abusers who inject themselves have surpassed people who engage in unprotected sex as a cause for the spread of HIV.
"More people realize that unprotected sex is dangerous," Daniels said. "Sex is only going to be a problem for those who think it (contracting HIV through unprotected sex) won't happen to them. Most individuals now are well aware that protected sex is the only way to go."
GW organizations have attempted to deal with the dismal D.C. AIDS statistics by working with other organizations. The Neighbors' Project has set up a partnership with Metro TeenAIDS, an organization that fights HIV and AIDS within D.C.'s youth.
"We know that the messages will get out better if they're kids from the community going out into the community. We want to engage young people from D.C.'s poorest neighborhoods to end the struggle from this epidemic," said Adam Tenner, Metro TeenAIDS' executive director. "It's not just fishing, it's teaching people how to fish."
"Some people become complacent and they view it as only people in Africa. 'Only people in Africa have AIDS and it doesn't affect me here.' That's just not the case," Burridge said. "There are a lot of people with affected family members and people they know."
Student Global AIDS Campaign and national non-profit Hope's Voice have arranged for GW to be the first stop on the "Road to Hope" tour, sponsored by a coalition of HIV/AIDS service providers, advocacy groups and research organizations.
Prevention Works' Program Manager Ron Daniels said drug users and substance abusers who inject themselves have surpassed people who engage in unprotected sex as a cause for the spread of HIV.
"More people realize that unprotected sex is dangerous," Daniels said. "Sex is only going to be a problem for those who think it (contracting HIV through unprotected sex) won't happen to them. Most individuals now are well aware that protected sex is the only way to go."
GW organizations have attempted to deal with the dismal D.C. AIDS statistics by working with other organizations. The Neighbors' Project has set up a partnership with Metro TeenAIDS, an organization that fights HIV and AIDS within D.C.'s youth.
"We know that the messages will get out better if they're kids from the community going out into the community. We want to engage young people from D.C.'s poorest neighborhoods to end the struggle from this epidemic," said Adam Tenner, Metro TeenAIDS' executive director. "It's not just fishing, it's teaching people how to fish."
