More than a heart-shaped box
Marcus Larson | Freelance photographer
The best presents for a loved-one
don't have to come from a store
A gift involving an inside joke, a secret or something that
brings back memories from the relationship can be a
great, inexpensive sign of affection for Valentine’s Day.
“I’d prefer to receive a sentimental gift on Valentine’s
Day rather than something expensive,” junior Alishiya
Halaney said.
For couples who have been dating for an extended peri
od of time, a scrapbook full of pictures, mementos, quotes
and song lyrics can be a touching gesture.
“Once I sketched a picture of us together that (my
girlfriend) liked and framed it,” freshman William
Reynolds said.
Making a delicious dessert, such as a cake, cookies or
cupcakes brings out the sugar in a traditionally sweets
filled holiday. To personalize treats, top them with a mes
sage in icing. Candy hearts can help provide inspiration for
the message.
For a significant other who loves candy, stop off at Sweet
Factory to select his or her favorites for $2.19 per
one-fourth pound. Put the candy in a glass jar, and person
alize it with paint. For the chocoholic, a decent-sized box at
See’s Candies is about $10.
In the flower department, there are options beyond ros
es, which can get extremely expensive as Feb. 14 approach
es. Carnations and tulips are less expensive alternatives.
Overall, remember to think of what the person wants to
receive. It doesn’t have to be anything too fancy, because
Valentine’s Day is about putting in time, effort and thought.
— Kaitlin Stewart
your independent student newspaper
A healthy
Alliance
Allen Hall Public Relations and HIV Alliance
team up to educate students about HIV and AIDS
BY ASHLEY GRIFFIN
SUPPLEMENT FREELANCE EDITOR
Monday is National Condom
Day, and at least two groups
in Eugene want University
students to know about it.
Allen Hall Public Relations, the stu
dent-run public relations firm in the
journalism school, and HIV Alliance, a
nonprofit organization in Lane Coun
ty, have teamed up in a campaign to
promote HIV and AIDS awareness.
According to HIV Alliance, one in
every 250 people living in Lane
Country is infected with HIV. Na
tionally, half of all new HIV infec
tions occur in people ages 15 to 24.
Its campaign is, in part, an effort to
raise awareness about these num
bers. Titled ‘Wrap it Up’, it is de
signed to be a kind of prototype for
other college campuses to follow.
One of HIV Alliance’s main goals is
to educate as many students and com
munity members as possible about the
facts of HIV, how it is transmitted and
how it can be prevented. It also wants
to raise support for individuals living
with HIV or AIDS.
Laura Bishow, AH PR assistant gen
eral manager, said it is definitely worth
the effort.
“They are a really great organiza
tion, and we’re really excited to help
them out,” she said. “There’s been a
lot of work so far. We helped them
table out in front of the bookstore and
talk in large lecture classes.”
The group’s next big event will take
place on National Condom Day, when
it will place an educational table at the
EMU Amphitheater to hand out con
doms and fact sheets with its mascot,
Captain Rubber.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, condoms have been the surest
way to prevent the transmission of HIV
and other sexually transmitted dis
eases. In fact, analysis of studies con
ducted by the National Institutes of
Health found an 8 5-percent decrease
in the riskpf HIV transmission among
consistent condom users.
Both groups realize the seriousness
of the situation and say this is an
important event for them.
“We started working with them at
the beginning of school. This is a pret
ty big event and gets a push on Nation
al Condom Day to tie it in with the
national theme,” Bishow said.
After this event, both groups will
continue to work together in an effort
to increase HIV and AIDS awareness.
They will run a similar campaign the
first weekend in March at local bars.
ashleygriffin@ daily emerald. com