Delivering the annual "Leadership, Unity and Volunteerism" lecture at West Chester University, Pennsylvania.

University lectures

The students had great things to say about your presentation. For example, one comment noted 'his encyclopedic demonstration of the disease's devastating effects on the global community"; another added that 'incorporating the statistics made it easier to understand.' Several comments mentioned your ease with the political aspects of the disease and discussion of its origins. One of my male students mentioned in class that your willingness to tell your personal story was the most important part of the day for him. I could go on; your 'reviews' were glowing. Thanks again for your excellent discussion of the epidemic. Also thanks for bringing the handouts; my students grabbed the remainders in the next class."

Rebecca Reviere, Sociology and Anthropology
Howard University
Washington, DC

Conference keynotes

"It was great to see you in Seattle. Your talk was very well received. Your 'credentials' on AIDS issues lend credence to your views on other nutrition-related opportunities. Your talk was considered among the best presentations at the conference."

Craig Shniderman

Executive Director, Food & Friends, Washington, DC

Public library author talks

"Thank you for your eloquent presentation."

Paul T. Mills, Sr.
Chief, Division of Sociology
District of Columbia Public Library

Fundraising programs

"[T]hank you for being such a great conduit to a very fun event. I certainly appreciated your willingness to help us out with Hot Stuff by attending and signing all those books. I was very pleased with the turnout, and they obviously had a great time. We were able to raise over $1,000 that night."

Gregg A. Kelly
Director of Special Events
Whitman-Walker Clinic
Washington, DC

Book clubs

"To a person, everyone thought this was one of our best book club meetings and was most impressed with your clarity of thought and presentation."

James P. Ostryniec
Oboist, Baltimore Symphony and book club organizer
Washington, DC

Students listen . . .

From The Quad, the student newspaper of West Chester University (Pennsylvania)

To the Editor:

While standing in line at the computer lab in Anderson, I witnessed something that truly upset and disappointed me.
  

A student in a wheelchair was struggling to remove a CD from his computer, and he asked for someone to help him do so.

One girl turned around and looked upon hearing his voice, but she merely rolled her eyes, turned back away, and refused to help.

There were at least five people in line ahead of me, one of whom was standing right behind the student, but everyone simply ignored him as if he wasn't there, so I stepped out of line to assist the student. It took me all of 30 seconds to remove the CD and place it in its case.

I am appalled at the behavior of my fellow students. This young man obviously needed help, and asked for it politely several times, but was blatantly ignored.

When John-Manuel Andriote spoke on campus a few weeks ago regarding the AIDS epidemic, the central tenet of his message was that we all have the capacity to be heroes, because all a hero really is, is someone who steps up and does something simply because it needs to be done.

All the people in the computer room that day saw a very simple task that needed to be accomplished, yet none of them could be bothered to do it.

How do we ever hope to get anywhere as a society, to solve any of our numerous social problems, when people are so apathetic or lazy or unkind that they cannot even take 30 seconds out of their day to help when help is needed?

Melissa Lake, WCU student

ACCOLADES

JOHN-MANUEL ANDRIOTE