What is the "Do You See Orange" campaign?
The "Do You See Orange" campaign is an activism campaign sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness regarding HIV/AIDS.
Why is this campaign important?
It is estimated that 25 million people have died from the virus since the 1980s, and another 33 million are currently infected, 2.1 million of whom are children. But HIV/AIDS does not only infect and kill individuals, it destroys the fabric of entire communities economically and socially. Another 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have been orphaned by AIDS. HIV/AIDS has a global reach, affecting every inhabitable continent and newly infecting thousands of people every day.
How does it work?
The goal of the campaign is to motivate Ohio State students to wear bright orange shirts that say “Orphans” on Wed April 9th and Thursday April 10th. Through this orange T-shirt campaign, we aim to raise awareness about the impact this virus is having on our world by showing our campus a graphic representation of how HIV has affected sub-Saharan Africa. We aim for 2,500 people on campus, or 5% of our student body, to wear this orange t-shirt on April 9 and 10 in order to represent the 5% of children in sub-Saharan Africa who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.
Who can participate?
We are inviting any OSU student and student organization to participate in raising awareness regarding this pandemic.
What is the cost of the T-shirt?
We are selling the shirts at cost: $5 a shirt.
Are you raising money with these shirts? Where is this money going?
We are selling the shirts almost exactly at the price we bought them, no money is being raised from them. Technically, we make about 8 cents per shirt. If there is any money from these profits, it will be donated to the same charity as any other money raised this week.
These t-shirts are cheap. Were they produced in a sweatshop?
InterVarsity has ensured that these t-shirts were produced by an organization in compliance with fair trade principles.
You are a Christian organization. What if I believe differently?
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and other campus organizations will be engaged in activities throughout campus during the week of the campaign that will address the physical and spiritual aspects of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. By wearing this shirt, you are giving voice to the voiceless, but you are not agreeing to subscribe to the values of InterVarsity, nor are you supporting participation in these other activities by wearing the shirt.
What are procedures regarding the T-shirt?
Below you are invited to sign up for a T-shirt by filling out a quick web form. When the T shirts arrive, you will be notified by email. There are two pick up dates. If you sign up before spring break, you will receive a date and location to pick up the shirts before spring break. If your sign up is after spring break, then you will be asked to pick up the shirt after spring break. We encourage you to sign up soon. You will be asked to pay for the shirts upon pick up.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Anything? Email us at orangeinfo@intervarsityosu.org.