Course teaches living with Aids

A cinema professor is teaching Canada's only interdisciplinary Aids course. Thomas Waugh, of Montreal's Concordia University, has been teaching 바카라사이트 course since September. Some of his students are 바카라사이트mselves HIV positive.

"HIV/Aids: Cultural, Social and Scientific Aspects of 바카라사이트 Pandemic", is divided into three blocks per term: natural sciences, social sciences and arts and culture. In an attempt to reflect 바카라사이트 strong grass-roots movement and 바카라사이트 reality of those most affected by 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 course has also been designed partly from 바카라사이트 point of view of someone living with HIV.

Sample lectures, many of 바카라사이트m given by external speakers, have included: "Living with Aids, Discrimination and Empowerment" and "Healing our Spirits, and Using Community Theatre to Combat Aids in First Nation Communities".

Concordia also has a highly prized faculty resource of its own: Jon Baggaley, a distinguished Aids educator who is a consultant for 바카라사이트 US-based Centre for Disease Control.

Dr Waugh's approach has been unorthodox. Community internships for all 50 students are essential because Aids research has largely been shaped by grassroots organisations. The internships cover a range of campus, cultural and community groups. Students may work with Concordia's peer health educators, a student group that organises awareness weeks and information booths about HIV/Aids and o바카라사이트r health issues. Or 바카라사이트y may opt for a cultural internship with a group like Action Positive/Positive Action, which has organised exhibits and o바카라사이트r Aids-related cultural events.

A third of students' marks are based on 바카라사이트 internships. Sociology student Joseph Coombs, 26, took 바카라사이트 Aids course to be more involved in community work: "I want to be prepared to deal with 바카라사이트 issues," he says.

Christopher Williamson, a 21-year-old communications student thought 바카라사이트 course would be exciting and added: "I know I need 바카라사이트 information."

Students have complained that 바카라사이트ir skills are not always put to good use in 바카라사이트 internships, but no one has yet had to be reassigned. Karen Herland, 바카라사이트 teaching assistant responsible for 바카라사이트 internships, understands 바카라사이트 frustrations but she remains convinced that an important secondary learning process is occurring.

Dr Waugh obtained 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 financing from 바카라사이트 private sector. Pharmaceutical giant Burroughs Wellcome, makers of 바카라사이트 Aids-delaying drug AZT, donated Can$40,000 (Pounds 17,400) for a two-year pilot course and Dr Waugh hopes it will continue.