Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis will speak at UNLV at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, in connection with World AIDS Day.
Louganis' lecture, titled "Breaking the Surface," will follow a panel discussion on "Educating Our Youth on HIV/AIDS," which begins at 7 p.m. Panel members will include Dr. Jerry Cade, a Las Vegas physician and HIV/AIDS expert; Josh Winchell, a UNLV freshman and pre/post-HIV test counselor; Las Vegas City Councilman Matt Callister; Carol Keck, a local mother dealing with HIV in her household; a member of the Clark County School Board; and a high school teacher. Organizers are hopeful that Louganis will also participate. The panel discussion will be moderated by television personality Eric Randall.
The lecture will focus on the challenges of domestic violence, substance abuse, learning disabilities, discrimination, and AIDS.
A free ticket and an item of canned food are required for entry to the panel discussion and the champion diver's lecture. Student and UNLV faculty tickets are available now from the Performing Arts Center Box Office. Tickets for the general public will become available at the box office Nov. 25. The canned food is requested as part of the food drive being conducted by UNLV student government for the benefit of Aid for AIDS of Nevada. Call (702) 895-3801 for ticket information.
The panel discussion and Louganis' talk are co-sponsored by CSUN Student Government, the office of the president, UNLV Student Services, the Residence Hall Association, and the Clark County AIDS Coalition.
Louganis' openness concerning his sexuality, his difficulties in the past, and his hope for the future, despite being HIV-positive, have made him a role model for millions. He currently speaks for many organizations including youth clubs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation groups, universities, and organizations for the dyslexic.
Louganis began competing in diving at age 10. By 16 he had won his first Olympic medal, a silver on the platform in the 1976 Olympics. At 24 he became the first man in 56 years to win two Olympic gold medals in diving by winning both the platform and springboard events. Four years later, competing against divers half his age, and despite a near disastrous injury during a dive, he became the first man to win double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics.
He won the World Championships six times and has held a record number of National Championships titles. In 1985 he received the Sullivan Award as the nation's most outstanding amateur athlete, and at the 1988 Olympic Games he was awarded the Maxwell House/United States Olympic Committee Spirit Award as the Olympic athlete who had best exhibited the ideals of the Olympic spirit, demonstrated extraordinary courage, and contributed significantly to the sport.
For more information on Worlds AIDS Day activities at UNLV, please call David Turner at (702) 894-3730.
