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Printer-Friendly ModeEvents planned for AIDS Memorial Quilt visit
April 17, 2006 —
RENT star Anthony Rapp will speak prior to the unveiling of 20 panels of the Names Project Foundation's AIDS Memorial Quilt at 7 p.m. tonight in the Ryder Center.
Although Rapp will center his discussion around the topic of AIDS, he will also speak of the making of RENT and hold a signing for his book Without You.
"Rapp is really a fun guy to be around," says Ryan Fewins, assistant director of the Student Life. "I think he will be a great way of opening up the ceremony and drawing a large body to the Quilt."
The Quilt is meant to show support for victims of AIDS. More than 83,000 people have designed and contributed pieces for the Quilt since 1987, the year it began traveling to and from countless locations.
Every 12-foot square panel of the Quilt is comprised of personalized smaller cloth blocks.
"The Quilt is just beautiful," Fewins says. "It's really magnificent."
The Quilt will be on display in the Ryder Center through Thursday and is just part of this week's HIV/AIDS related events. Tomorrow the names on the Quilt will be read aloud in the Ryder Center.
On Wednesday, the movie RENT will be shown at 10 p.m. in Cardinal Gym.
The week will wrap up on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Ryder Center with showcases of student artwork, musical talent, and theatrical performances.
Last Wednesday, Health Services provided free and confidential HIV and AIDS testing.
Fewins and Ashley Holdsworth of Student Life are responsible for coordinating the entire project. They organized a committee of over 30 students and community members.
Student Life wrote a grant last semester to Michigan Campus Compact for $2,500, an amount that was more than matched by the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management at SVSU. This amount went towards everything but Rapp's appearance. Student Life, Program Board, and the University Residence Association funded Rapp's visit.