LITTLETON – Arapahoe Community College will be joining citizens from around the world in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases on Tuesday, Dec. 1. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Second Floor Student Lounge in the ACC Main Building, ACC faculty, staff and students will participate in activities promoting World AIDS Day.

The ACC Student Affairs Office will be encouraging students to practice safe sex, including abstinence, as a means to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Activities will include showing videos, passing out informational packets and condoms and conducting free, confidential, rapid HIV testing. The tests will be onsite, but in a safe, secure and confidential location.

The event is free and open to students, faculty and staff.

AIDS is an affliction in which a virus has weakened the body’s immune system and cancer or serious infections occur. AIDS is spread most often through sexual contact. The scientific name for the virus is HIV. AIDS tests look for the presence of antibodies the body has made to defend against the AIDS virus. A positive result does not mean the person tested has AIDS. The person does not have AIDS until serious symptoms develop.

The Main Campus of Arapahoe Community College at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton is on the east side of Santa Fe at College Drive just south of historic downtown Littleton. The Student Lounge is located just past the lobby on the second floor of the Main Building.