Former Tennessee Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will lead a program on Vanderbilt’s campus on Dec. 1 in recognition of World AIDS Day.

His talk, “Celebrating Life, Mourning Death: Continuing the Fight Against Global Aids,” is a part of a larger a movement sponsored by the World AIDS Campaign themed “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

According to its Web site, the organization is a global coalition based in Cape Town, South Africa, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, that aims to keep governments accountable to their commitment to the AIDS campaign.

According to AVERT, an international AIDS charity, World AIDS Day started on Dec. 1, 1988, to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education about the disease. The event focuses on the human rights issues that are contributing to the epidemic such as sex workers and injecting drug users. By promoting individual rights they aim to prevent the spread of new infections.

Jessica Gil, sophomore and board member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, Vanderbilt’s pre-health society, said she hopes the day will help change campus views toward AIDS.

“I think World AIDS Day is a great way to raise awareness on our campus because there is a very negative stigma towards the disease,” Gil said. “By changing the connotation of AIDS to a more positive one, we can show that we’re really supportive of the AIDS campaign.”

Frist is an assistant professor of cardiac surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and co-chairs the Save the Children organization’s “Survive to 5” campaign. He will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. at the Student Life Center. A 6:30 p.m. reception will be held prior to the event. Tickets are free at the Sarratt Box Office.