Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Opinion

Kyle Hansen

When I was 13 years old, my dad was hit by a truck while riding his bicycle to work.

He was in the hospital for six weeks, literally tied to a bed so that his shattered bones could heal. He was black and blue from neck to knees, with one huge bruise caused by internal bleeding.

Luckily for my dad - and my whole family - a blood transfusion helped save his life.

Unfortunately, the next person who needs blood might not be so lucky. Hospitals have a constant need for more blood donations than they are currently getting.

There is almost never enough blood, and our university has made a deadly situation even worse.

With the simple action of sending an e-mail last week, SJSU President Don Kassing banned all blood drives on campus and sent a clear message that saving the lives of Bay Area residents is not important to this

institution.

Kassing's decision is wrong and must be reversed immediately.

Students must protest this decree, first by complaining to the university through the proper channels and second by leaving the campus environment and donating blood elsewhere.

Kassing banned blood drives because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's requirements for donating violate the university's nondiscrimination policy.

The nondiscrimination policy is important, but providing blood to those in need is more important. It is plain wrong to let political issues get in the way of saving lives.

The FDA's blood donation regulations are outdated and unfair. They do not allow any man who has ever had sex with another man to donate. Technology has improved; it is now possible to test blood donations for AIDS and other diseases, but the FDA has not updated its rules in years.

The FDA policies need to be revised. It is unfair to keep gay men from donating when they can safely do so. But that does not mean that it is acceptable to deny someone else the right to live.

Keeping blood away from dying people is not a humane way to protest a federal policy.

Stopping blood drives on campus will only make it harder than it already is to get life-saving blood to those who need it.

If my dad were in an accident today, would there be enough blood to meet his need? Would President Kassing have condemned my father to die?

What about the pregnant woman who is hit by a drunk driver and needs a pint of blood to save herself and her baby?

What about the 75-year-old grandmother who needs blood during her knee-replacement surgery?

What about the gay man who needs a blood transfusion every month as part of his treatment for AIDS?

What about the millions of other Americans who need blood transfusions every year?

Certainly not all of the needed blood comes from students donating at universities, but a lot of it does.

The last time I donated on campus, I had to wait two hours, even though I had an appointment. Once I finally got into the chair to give blood, I overheard the nurses complaining about how tired they were. Every time they go to a college they get too many people donating, they said as my blood flowed into a bag for someone else to use.

But there is still a constant need for blood.

According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion every two seconds. Every blood donation can save up to three lives, but in Northern California alone, 350 people need to donate blood every day just to meet the needs of area hospitals.

The best way to protest Kassing's decision is by going to donate blood and helping to save the lives of those who are in desperate need. You can donate with the Red Cross, www.beadonor.com, or with the Stanford Blood Center, bloodcenter.stanford.edu.

If you are gay or otherwise ineligible to donate, you can still help. Continue to lobby the FDA to get the policies changed so that you can donate. In the meantime, encourage others to give blood. Volunteer to help at a blood drive or in some other way. There are better means of protesting unjust laws. Don't let other people suffer and die while waiting for the FDA to change.

Everyone should let President Kassing know his decision was a mistake. You can write to him directly at the university or you can submit a letter to the Spartan Daily.

And to whoever donated blood to my dad, thank you. I hope that my donations have saved someone just as your donation saved my family.

Thank you for donating.


Related Stories:
Feb. 7, 2008: Plot thickens in wake of blood drive suspension
Feb. 7, 2008: Where to donate blood off campus
Feb. 4, 2008: President halts blood drives; policy questioned
Jan. 30, 2008: Blood drives stopped
Feb. 7, 2008: Opinion: This Queer Life: Bad Blood
Poll: Do you agree with SJSU's blood drive ban?

Other Links:
Letter from President Kassing
Other links from the President's office

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools