Melnick Museum opens ‘Surviving & Thriving’ exhibit on AIDS history

The Melnick Medical Museum has announced the installation of the banner exhibit titled ‘Surviving & Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture’ in the atrium of Cushwa Hall. The exhibit opened on Monday, September 30, and will remain on campus through November 15.

The display features 12 colorful banners, presented in both English and Spanish, and explores the societal responses to the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s. The exhibit highlights the efforts of early responders who cared for the sick, fought against homophobia, and advocated for new health practices. It also addresses the struggles of scientists and public health officials to understand the disease, as well as the initial silence from politicians until the crisis became too severe to overlook. Activists played a critical role, demanding that individuals with AIDS be included in the solution.

This exhibit serves as a reminder of the importance of community, activism, and scientific inquiry.

For those participating in online classes, the exhibit website offers the same information as the physical banners. The National Library of Medicine has also created six college-level lessons, complete with discussion questions, based on the exhibit content.