Monday, April 2, 2007
Students in Hashinger Hall got up close and personal Friday night with former American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis.
Davis came to Lawrence to speak for 15 Seconds, a student group dedicated to raising HIV awareness. As a performer on the Broadway show RENT, Davis had plenty to say about HIV education.
“If you are under the impression that you will go through this life without being affected by this disease, you are lying to yourself,” Davis said.
Davis talked about her first exposure to AIDS from watching “The Real World.” Pedro, one of the participants in the 1994 season, died from complications of the disease during the show. Davis said she never watched the show again because of the effect it had on her as a teenager.
“I cried, I grieved for that boy,” Davis said. “His story has stuck with me. I’ve always thought about him.”
pullquote
We all will be directly or indirectly affected by this disease, and I think we all have a social responsibility for the cure.
-Frenchie Davis, former American Idol contestant
The founding members of 15 Seconds, Cody Charles and Tyrone Brown, said they had hoped for a bigger audience, but were pleased with the result.
“Frenchie was amazing,” said Charles, Houston graduate student. “It’s relieving that someone who’s doing what she’s doing can deeply commit to something so local.”
Charles and Brown first contacted Davis about their plans through MySpace. Charles said she didn’t really care about not being paid but was happy to help spread HIV awareness on campus.
15 Seconds began as a way to inform mass audiences about HIV and AIDS. The group is named after a specific HIV statistic that Charles and Brown found, which stated that one person under the age of 25 will become infected with HIV every 15 seconds.
Shocked by this number, they decided to start prevention through education by forming 15 Seconds.
Trevor Wysling, member of the hip-hop group AR 15 who spoke on a guest panel last week, attended Davis’ performance before returning to Los Angeles. Wysling was impressed by Davis’ contributions to HIV awareness.
“The fact that someone of her status wants to give back to the community, that’s huge,” Wysling said. The rap artist said he was also impressed by her family’s involvement in Darfur to help foster better relations.
Wysling said that it was crucial to get people thinking about the dangers of HIV, and that Every 15 Seconds put together a week of important events to do just that.
Students at the performance were equally impressed by the contributions of Davis and 15 Seconds to social issues.
Billy Massey, Hoyt sophomore, said it was encouraging to see students supporting the week-long events during 15 Seconds Week, which was March 26 to 31.
“People would just stop by, and even if they weren’t there the whole time, they learned a little bit,” Massey said.
Davis ended her presentation of HIV awareness with a few songs and one-on-one discussion with audience members. She said her experience in Kansas was a positive one and hoped the audience got something out of it.
“We all will be directly or indirectly affected by this disease, and I think we all have a social responsibility for the cure,” she said.
Kansan staff writer Katy Blair can be contacted at kblair@kansan.com.
— Edited by Ashley Thompson
HIV infects someone every 15 seconds
Shocking HIV/AIDS statistics inspire students to form awareness group. 15 Seconds Week ...
Free HIV testing for students begins today
The Douglas County AIDS Project and Student Health Services will conduct the ...
Davis exceptional during Nebraska victory
Carolyn Davis scored a career-high 36 points on Saturday.
Speaker sheds light on transgender life
Debra Davis visits the University tonight for KU Queers and Allies’ Transgender ...
Women learn benefits, dangers of sex toys
Sex toys that have environmentally friendly options also can be less hazardous ...
Goodrich and Davis embrace roles on and ...
Angel Goodrich and Carolyn Davis are each other's support systems during this ...
Political activist redefines feminism
Angela Davis discusses how feminism reaches beyond gender equality to LGBT rights ...
KU panel discusses your brain, on food
Studies at KU Life Span Institute look to answer questions about the ...
DCAP looking into rapid result HIV testing
Rapid result HIV testing gives individual's answers in a matter of hours ...
Library exhibit raises AIDS awareness
Health educators say students don’t take the disease and its effects seriously ...
Davis' suspension lifted after meeting
May Davis won her appeal and can now begin her vice presidential ...
Davis leads Jayhawks to victory
The sophomore forward finished the game with 29 points.
Students urged to get tested for HIV
Recent study reveals that number of HIV cases are higher than government ...
Latexhibition raises awareness for World AIDS Day
Students created art projects using condoms and latex gloves, which are the ...
Davis rapidly improves during short career
Freshman forward Carolyn Davis started her career on the bench and is ...
World AIDS Day events on campus include ...
Student Health Services, the Douglas County AIDS Project and the LGBT Resource ...
Student groups hold event for World AIDS ...
Douglas County AIDS Project will offer HIV testing in the Kansas Union.
Free HIV testing promotes AIDS awareness
Campus organizations held the event Tuesday for World AIDS Day.
Red Ribbon Art Auction raises money for ...
The Douglas County AIDS Project holds the fundraiser every year and last ...
Kansas defeats Florida Atlantic University 82-63
Upperclassmen led the undefeated Jayhawks to their sixth victory this season.
Weight loss speech inspires students
Ben Davis loss 120 pounds in recovery.
Carolyn Davis has game to remember
Forward Carolyn Davis goes for career high in points scored while Kansas ...
Certain behaviors increase need for STD testing
Health centers follow the motto, better safe than sorry, when it comes ...
Davis accepts invitation to USA World University ...
Carolyn Davis is one of 34 players chosen to attend workouts in ...
Jayhawks’ team unity boosted after win
Kansas picked up an overtime win over No. 20 Iowa State.
Students experience living on campus
Students should expect to make some adjustments to a new environment when ...
Relay raises money to battle cancer
Editorial: Help raise breast cancer awareness
Salon Hawk’s pink hair extensions are one way to support the cause.
Businesses, shoppers prepare for Sidewalk Sale
More than 80 downtown businesses are participating, some opening as early as ...
Queers and Allies protests blood donation policy
The FDA does not allow men who have had sex with other ...
Women's ACL injuries and the path to ...
New research and knowledge dealing with ACL tears help junior forward Carolyn ...
Davis fights for starting position
Freshman Carolyn Davis harneses her “nice” personality and gets aggressive.
Malicious Intimacy
Four students' experiences with domestic violence.
Sophomores will be threats for Jayhawks
Monica Engelman and Carolyn Davis look to build on solid freshman campaigns.
Davis works to get back on the ...
Junior forward Carolyn Davis make sacrifices and stays determined in order to ...
Davis named to preseason all-Big 12 team
Junior forward Carolyn Davis also listed as potential candidate for State Farm ...
Celebrating victory against breast cancer
The softball team hosted a Pink in the Park game in support ...
Nurse sparks Relay for Life
Watkins employee isn't letting breast cancer deter her.
Know your Student Senate candidates
Learn more about the candidates for Student Senate
HIV discussion should be based in facts, ...
Misinformation hinders talk about a serious issues.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID