'Remembering Richard' exhibit April 8-May 29

"Remembering Richard: Fostering Community in the Shadow of AIDS" is an event and exhibition. Augustana and the local community will create a panel for the National AIDS Memorial Quilt in honor of Richard Van Truss '86, who passed away from HIV/AIDS in 1995, and for any other members of Augie and the Quad Cities' queer communities who have been lost. Van Truss' story was discovered by Kat-Jean Glusick '26 during their research into queer histories at Augustana.

The creation of the new quilt panel will take place Wednesday, April 8, from 12:30-2 p.m. and from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Additionally, Special Collections will display an existing panel of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt (block #4489, dedicated to Robert "Robb" Dussliere) from April 8 through May 29, open to campus and the public during normal Special Collections hours.

This event is a collaboration between Tredway Library and Special Collections; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; the Public Health Department; the Art Department; the Geography Department; the History Department; and GSA. Off-campus, the event has received support from The Project of the Quad Cities (a local health clinic serving people living with HIV/AIDS), Atlas Collective (LGBTQ+ bookstore), Pride in Memory (a local group documenting LGBTQ+ history of the Quad Cities), Clock Inc. (LGBT+ community center), Hey Jane(y) & Co. (an organization focused on access to sex health education) and Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities. It was also made possible in partnership with the National AIDS Memorial organization.