Terry Poelling made people soar. Danny E. Thompson was a beloved son, brother and friend. Michael A. Haskins’ mom, Dortohy F., reproduced an original watercolor of their family farm near Bowling Green.
Steve Dennis was a friend, son, brother, poet, scholar, outdoorsman, cook extroardinaire, sweet, funny and gentle spirit.
Today and tomorrow students, faculty, staff and community members will have the opportunity to view these individuals stories and the stories of others. All had one thing in common in both life and death — AIDS.
All of these stories can be viewed on the panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was founded in San Francisco in 1987. The Quilt will be on display from 11 – 5 p.m. today and Thursday in the Union Multipurpose Room.
The quilt contains 10 12-by-12 squares, each of which contain eight individual panels. Last year there was an estimated 44,000 panels that made up the Quilt, and an estimated 84,000 names appeared on the Quilt (representing an estimated 19 percent of U.S. AIDS deaths).
“We requested to have panels from the local area,” said Rebekah Sandlin, graduate assistant at the Wellness Connection. The Connection brought the Quilt back to campus, the last time it appeared was in 1997.
“We felt it was time to do some reeducation about the subject,” Sandlin said.
ndividuals who attend the display will be presented with an AIDS awareness ribbon and an information card about the free and anonymous HIV/AIDS testing on-campus.
The display’s staff is made up entirely of volunteers, Sandlin was overwhelmed with the number of people willing to help.
“It’s all volunteers. And it’s made up of students, staff and faculty members, as well as community members. It is predominately students, however,” Sandlin said. “It has been a phenomenal response with volunteers.”
Sandlin said that they would love to bring the Quilt back to campus soon, and not have five years go past like this time. “I think that ideally we would like to have it on our campus as often as possible,” Sandlin said.
There is a fee attached to having the Quilt displayed on-campus, which affects the number of times that the Quilt will be displayed at the University.
The Quilt was estimated at 792,000 square feet last year — that’s equivalent to 16 football fields without walkways — and 50 miles long if the panels were laid end to end.
Sandlin hopes that everyone takes the time to look at the Quilt while it is on campus.
“I think that we are drawing from all audiences — students, staff, faculty and community members,” said Sandlin.
The following are more stories from the Quilt, but there are many more for individuals to go and see.
John L. Mendoza, Fostoria, Ohio (June 4, 1946 to Nov. 6, 1995)
“To John:
Short Friendship
Long Memories
Mabel and Bo”
In memory of Ken Stinson (Oct. 26, 1952 to July 22, 1993)
“I miss you, my friend, but I can remember.
Susanna”
Jimi Dean (1955 to 1992)
“To ignore the whispers of today … is to listen to the screams of tomorrow.”
Donald Matthew Kobermann (1963 to 1993)
“In time, we will all be stars! Love, Carol”
