By Jake SpringThe Daily Northwestern
Rapper Ludacris will visit Northwestern on Nov. 29 to give a speech about the dangers of AIDS, Center for Student Involvement staffers said Monday.
Representatives of Ludacris contacted CSI about hosting the event two weeks ago, but the contract is still being negotiated, said Judith Cooper, assistant director for CSI. The hip-hop artist’s visit would be part of a four-campus tour promoting the national YouthAIDS “Kick Me!” campaign, she said.
Ludacris will lead a discussion along with his speech, which is not open to the public, she said.
“It’s invitation only right now,” she said. “We’re having mainly those classes that talk about AIDS and student groups that deal with AIDS.”
CSI plans to make 300 tickets available to those in AIDS-related classes and student groups. Remaining tickets will be offered to students who have donated to “Kick Me!” or are volunteering to raise money. Students with a personal connection to AIDS will be able to apply to attend if they are not invited, Cooper said.
“Invitations will probably go out Wednesday, ” said Jasmyn Jones, a Weinberg junior and president of Northwestern’s HIV/AIDS Literacy Organization. “We can’t publicize a lot until we figure out class sizes and the number of executive board members that comprise the student groups.”
HALO will co-sponsor the event and further specifics have yet to be determined, Cooper said.
The “Kick Me!” campaign hopes to raise money for AIDS awareness and prevention programs in 60 countries, said Cristina Broker, cause-related marketing coordinator for YouthAIDS. Ludacris acts as a youth ambassador for the campaign. He also is scheduled to visit colleges in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, leading up to World Aids Day on Dec. 1.
Students who volunteer for the “Kick Me!” campaign raise money by receiving pledges to wear AIDS-awareness signs, Broker said.
“It’s like in junior high or high school when people would stick a ‘kick me’ sign on someone else’s back, and they wouldn’t know about it,” Broker said. “Today more than 90 percent of those with HIV don’t know it.”
Ludacris has been involved with YouthAIDS since March when he joined the ALDO Fights AIDS campaign, joint-sponsored by YouthAIDS and the makers of ALDO shoes.
Ludacris, whose given name is Chris Bridges, won a Grammy with Lil Jon and Usher in 2004 for their song “Yeah!” He also played a supporting role in the film “Crash,” which won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Film of the Year.
Reach Jake Spring at [email protected].
