This fall, Columbia College Chicago is introducing Critical Encounters, a three-year civic engagement project where students can address HIV/AIDS in classes, art projects and public events. The first year focuses directly on HIV/AIDS issues; the second on complicating factors such as poverty; and in the third year students will work on ways to address these issues.

"What we saw was an opportunity to enlarge the framework, the context, in which the subject of HIV/AIDS was being framed," said Steve Kapelke, provost. "We believe students will be changed by this. Some of them will be [moved] to use their art to make other people aware of the situation," he said. "It's about taking action."

Amy Hawkins, an English professor and Critical Encounters fellow, said she knew the arts faculty would recognize the importance of HIV/AIDS, "because historically that was one of the communities that was greatly affected in the 80s." Students "don't have a historical reference to the 80s, but they're really well-aware it's a worldwide, global problem now too," she said.

Several events open to the public will be offered this year. For more information on Critical Encounters, visit www.colum.edu/criticalencounters/About_Critical_Encounters.php.

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