If a giant, floating, red AIDS ribbon made out of balloons didn’t give it away, over 100 art displays made out of safe sex materials lined the lawn and clued students in on the 10th Annual Multicultural AIDS Awareness Day at SF State.

The fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and supporting university organizations - including the Education and Referral Organization for Sexuality (EROS), the AIDS Coordinating Committee (ACC), Student Health Services (SHS), Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), faculty and administrative sponsors - all hosted the event, which was held on the lawn and Malcolm X Plaza from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., on April 19.

The event's publicity chair explained its purpose.

“The AIDS epidemic is a worldwide killer," said Ingrid Lozada. "And we hope that this event can help young people be more aware of the disease, ways they could protect themselves, and resources that are out there for them."

There were 41,155 cases of HIV in California reported in the month of March, 2006 alone, according to the California Department of Health Services. Worldwide, 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2005, according to Aids.com.

To raise awareness, the event included tables with free information and handouts for students from various Bay Area AIDS organizations, vouchers for free HIV testing from the SHS and a safer sex workshop co-sponsored by the Center for Sex & Culture - a community outreach center, and Good Vibrations - a sex shop, both located in San Francisco.

At 12:30 p.m., Michael Ritter, of the ACC, spoke about the activism and the progress of the campus event. He encouraged students to begin their own forms of activism, sighting the event coordinators as role models.

“Alpha Phi Omega is an example of activism and commitment," he said. "They have been putting an effort into this for many years, along with the students of EROS, SHAC, CEASE, SAFE, and the ACC are working to make our world a safer, healthier place."

Robert Ortega then read a statement from Mayor Gavin Newsom and declared April 19 Multicultural AIDS Awareness Day in San Francisco.

The likes of free pizza from Italian Pizza Creations, and the EROS Latexhibition featuring creative works of safe sex art - fashioned by students - drew in steady crowds all afternoon.

A prom dress made entirely out of condoms and latex gloves was among the standout projects. Cassie Blaser, 21, a junior apparel design and merchandising major, worked with a group of other students including, Julie Alcid and Tatiana Zerpa, to fashion the dress.

Victoria Petersen, 19, a sophomore and double-major in BECA and art, surveyed the line of latex projects. Petersen created a project out of condoms and latex gloves in her Human Sexuality class.

“I really enjoyed making my piece and everything going on today," she said. "It’s cool that we do stuff like this and have protests on campus. It shows how diverse and open to differing opinions we are."

The entertainment of the day included Chinese Lion Dancing by the Gee Yung International Martial Arts Dragon and the Lion Dance Association. There were also performances from Latin, Filipino, and African musical groups.

Former student Ricky Derr performed in the Lion Dance. Derr began attending SF State in 1996 and graduated in 2001. This was the second time that he performed the Lion Dance for the Multicultural AIDS Awareness Day.

“A lot has changed, especially with this event," he said. "It’s been around for a decade and it seems to get better every year."

Through the years, the event has garnered some prestigious awards.

On April 26, 2000, the 4th Annual Multicultural AIDS Awareness Day was awarded the City Proclamation from the City of San Francisco by then Mayor Willie Brown. In 2002, the event was given SFSU Historical Status by the University. In 2005, it received recognition from Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Event Coordinators, Gerry Abesamis and Susannah Shum, said they are trying to make the event better every year. Last year, they did not collaborate with EROS, and next year they plan on focusing more on publicity to let more students know about the event before it happens.

“We’re also hoping to get Mayor Newsom here himself next year,” said Abesamis. “The event keeps growing and gaining more and more recognition. It’s really thanks to all the people who help out.”