OPAA Jam raises awareness

The Quarry’s lights were dimmed while music blared through the speakers. OPAA  Organization for the Prevention of AIDS in Africa) organized its annual OPAA Jam Thursday night at the Quarry in Atwood.

“Beat It: A tribute to Michael Jackson” was this year’s theme.

In conjunction with the King of Pop’s death, OPAA selected this theme to commemorate his support for AIDS prevention. The idea “Beat It” meant “Beat AIDS” to OPAA.

Every year OPAA tries to pick a theme everyone can relate to.

OPAA Jam last year was themed “Keep the Hope Alive.”

“The event occurred around the time President Obama was giving his speech for the presidential elections. Almost everyone you came in contact with was talking about the elections,” said president of OPAA Luanda Majo.

DJs I-Majik and T-See played various genres of music such as reggae, pop, hip hop along with popular hits by Michael Jackson.

As part of the fund-raising event, OPAA had a concert ticket raffle for R&B artist Jeremih.
“AIDS is most prevalent in South Saharan Africa and it gets worse as it moves down south Africa,” Majo said.

By 2007, around 22 million people were living with AIDS in the Sub Sahara.

In that year, approximately 1.5 million people died from AIDS.

The deaths left almost 12 million African children orphaned.

The organization seeks to combat the epidemic through means of fund raising and education.

The entrance fee was $3 for singles and $5 for couples.

“Approximately $654 was collected that night and it was definitely more than what we raised last year,” Majo said.

Funds donated are given to organizations selected by members at the end of the year
In the selection process, OPAA chooses small, local African organizations that can create a direct impact on the people they help.

Red Cross and UNAIDS do not make the list because sums donated are small relative to the size of the organization.

In hoping to educate the university community, OPAA usually collaborates with otherdiverse organizations on campus as well as Health Services.

According to Majo, condoms distributed by OPAA are usually provided by Health Services.
Pamphlets on AIDS were also passed out during the event.

The Women’s Center and LGBT services have worked with OPAA and have said they will always be willing to work with them.

OPAA has also worked with ResLife and the Greek communities on campus to increase awareness.

In comparison with last year, Majo said that OPAA managed to widen their publicity range.
They promoted their event online through the networking Web site Facebook, and also informed other on-campus organizations.

Rami Misri, SCSU student from the IEC (Intensive English Center) heard about the dance party through his friends.

OPAA wanted those present to realize that AIDS is a pandemic and everyone is at risk.
“Some people may think that just because I’m not form Africa, I’m not affected. Yet it’s here in St. Cloud,” Majo said.

OPAA meets at 5 p.m. every Tuesday in the Voyageur South room in Atwood.    

Members that are unable to attend meetings are updated through e-mail.

“I think OPAA is doing an excellent job being just a student organization,” said SCSU junior Mingyur Paldon Tsangsar. “They are helping so many people. It’s amazing to know what normal students from St. Cloud in Minnesota can do for people in Africa who are so far away.”