Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal disease which has caused approximately 658,507 deaths in the United States, according to AIDS.gov, the U.S. government’s website about AIDS. There are more than one million people living in the U.S. who live with HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS.

AIDS is a disease of the immune system characterized by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

The University of Akron wants to spread awareness by partaking in World AIDS Day 2015 on Dec. 1.

Students, faculty, and staff can learn about the effects of the disease, ways to prevent it, and can hear stories about survivors throughout the day.

The morning will start off with an AIDS memorial quilt display in the Student Union trapezoid lounge from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

UA is offering free HIV and AIDS testing from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the SU Ballroom C.

One in eight individuals in the U.S. currently have HIV, but they are unaware they even have it, according to AIDS.gov.

From 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. there will be a World AIDS Day tabling and red ribbon distribution in the SU.

Also in the SU there will be be a discussion about celebrities, such as Keith Haring, Eazy-E, Freddie Mercury, and more, who have suffered with HIV or AIDS called We are the Champions, which will be held from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Later in the day, a LGBTU meeting will take place in the SU theatre at 7 p.m.

To end World AIDS Day, there will be a showing of “The Normal Heart” in the SU theatre at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about World AIDS day, visit http://bit.ly/1PWeflf.