The University of the Virgin Islands will observe Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 22 to 26 with activities on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. This year's theme is "United We Stand for a Drug Free Land."

Activities on UVI's St. Thomas campus include:

Oct. 22 - Pledge Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Make a pledge to be drug free and collect a red ribbon token at the UVI Dining Pavilion and Student Lounge in the Sports and Fitness Center.

Oct. 23 - Decoration Day Contest - Offices and/or organizations will be decorating areas on campus to be judged. Judging will take place anytime after 10 a.m. A trophy and prize will be given to the winner.

Oct. 24 - Walk & Speak Out -Walk against Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention - Walk starts at the Sports and Fitness Center at 5:30 p.m. and will end on the Golf Course where there will be a vigil and open mic on substance abuse and crime prevention. The first 50 walk participants will receive a free pedometer. First place in the open mic will win $300 and second place will receive $150.

Oct. 25 - Free HIV/AIDS testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Health Services Office.

Oct. 26 - Wear Red Day - Competition for the "most original red outfit" at the Dining Pavilion from noon to 1:30 p.m. There will be music, prizes and much more. The entire University community is encouraged to wear red - red socks, red hats, red shirts etc. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. in the Dining Pavilion. The top prize is a round-trip ticket on Seaborne Airlines.

Activities on UVI's St. Croix campus include:

Oct. 22 - Candlelight March, begins 6 p.m. at the palm drive entrance of the UVI campus. Participants should gather at 5:45 p.m. The march will end at the Cafetorium where there will be information tables and presentations by The Unity Coalition, Customs and Boarder Protection K-9 Unit, Department of Health: STI/HIV/TB and Substance Abuse Prevention, V.I. National Guard Counter Drug Task Force Drug Demand Reduction Program. Participants will also be able to complete pledge cards (on bulletin board outside of Student Activities Center) and make a pledge to be drug free. Pledge cards will be available throughout the week.

Oct. 23 - Blood Drive, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Student Activities Center.

• HIV Testing, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Health Services Center on the first floor of the Great House.
• Intramural Volleyball Game, 9:15 to 11 p.m. at the UVI Court.

Oct. 24 - Wear Red Day, the entire university community is encouraged to wear red. The Dance/Spirit Squad will perform from noon to 12:15 p.m. in the Cafetorium as a warm up to the Jeopardy Game that begins at 12:15 and runs through 12:50 p.m.

• Blood Drive in front of the Student Activities Center 3 to 6 p.m.

Oct. 26 - Door Decorating Contest, Offices and/or organizations will be decorating areas on campus to be judged. Prizes will be awarded on Oct. 30.

History - Details

Red Ribbon Week was created in honor of Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena who was murdered by a drug cartel in Mexico on Feb. 7, 1985. Red Ribbon Week is an opportunity for communities nationwide to raise awareness of drugs and alcohol abuse.

For more information about the Red Ribbon Week activities on the St. Thomas campus or to sign up to participate in the various contests contact Carolyn Wattley at 693-1120 or cwattle@uvi.edu. For more information about the Red Ribbon Week activities on the St. Croix campus contact Naita Salmon-Iles at 692-4214 or nsalmon@uvi.edu.