A group of Elon University students partnered with Alamance Cares, a local non-profit agency, to host the Countdown to Zero, a weeklong campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in preparation for World AIDS Day Dec. 1.

The campaign culminated Nov. 30 in the Koury Concourse, where students sat behind a table covered with lollypop-shaped condoms, cookies modeled after male genitalia and the occasional pamphlet. Passersby were encouraged to participate by decorating one of the “Silly Willy” cookies. Other activities included “Get it in the Hole”, a revamped version of Cornhole, and “Can You Score?”, in which participants kicked red and white AIDS awareness balloons past a duct-taped goalie with “pleasure pops” for fingers.

Five students in Elon professor Michelle Lashley’s Public Relations and Civic Responsibility course developed the sexual humor concept, and then pitched the idea to Alamance Cares. The organization selected Countdown to Zero from a pool of other strong campaigns proposed by students in her class, Lashley said.

“It was pitched just like in the real world, she said. “Though only one group could be selected, the entire class really came together and did an incredible job.”

Mackenzie Meyer, a junior member of the winning group, said she wanted people to laugh and learn at the same time.

“A lot of times, people try to use scare tactics, and that just isn’t effective with college students,” she said. “We wanted to open up the conversation.”

According to Meyer, the conversation was worth having, because college students in particular may not know enough about the disease. Meyer said several statistics surprised her, such as the AIDS infection rate: someone becomes infected every nine and a half minutes in the United States. And at first, she didn’t realize the risk HIV/AIDS posed to herself and other college students.

“I found I learned so much,” she said. “I had always thought, ‘I’m not at risk,’ but it just takes one mistake, one drunken night, one unasked question.”

Meyer’s words paraphrased a video produced by Lashley’s class to promote the Countdown to Zero. The short clip set the tone for the week’s other events, which included sponsoring College Coffee, erecting a display on Speaker’s Corner and offering free HIV testing in the health center.

Misconceptions surround testing, Meyer said. In the past, blood had to be drawn to check for infection, and Meyer said some people still think it’s necessary. She emphasized how modern medical technology has simplified the process.

“It takes literally 20 minutes and a swab of the cheek,” Meyer said. “There is no reason for someone not to be tested.”

According to Lashley, these measures ensured the campaign would be taken seriously, despite its teasing wordplay and reliance on humor.

“The truth is that this is a serious issue with a lot of stigma behind it,” she said. “The kids wanted to keep it light hearted to get the message across.”

Senior Brittany Woodard heard every word.

“ I love anytime people use humor for good, because then people listen,” she said. “And the more people listen, the more they are willing to help and fight against the disease.”