Plot thickens in wake of blood drive suspension
Kimberly Tsao
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: News
About two years ago, a group of SJSU students stopped organizing blood drives on campus for the same reason President Don Kassing imposed the ban last week.
"They decided it was discriminatory," said Melinda Chu-Yang, coordinator of peer health education.
The Food and Drug Administration placed a lifetime deferral on men who have had sex with other men since the AIDS outbreak in 1977.
Still, Chu-Yang said, "I understand a lot of students give blood, but there are other outlets, so it's not the end of the world.
"I think it was a good decision, and it seems like the university supports it."
Not everybody shares her opinion.
Jonathan Hodges, an SJSU alumnus of December 2007, said, "Students make up a lot of the donations. We should do everything possible to make it happen. This decision is a step backwards."
Hodges first heard about the ban on SJSU blood drives in the Feb. 1 issue of the San Jose Mercury News.
He said that his initial reaction was shock and disappointment.
Hodges designed flyers asking the SJSU community to contact President Kassing, and he printed them out over the weekend. He then came on campus last Tuesday to hand them out at the Student Union.
Hodges said Kassing should form a lobbying group as opposed to a ban on blood drives.
"Lob the FDA. Don't take it out on people who need blood and have nothing to do with this decision," he said.
Lisa Benham, a graduate student, said she hopes the FDA repeals the ban.
"They should continue to screen for blood diseases, maybe even do more research to refine technology and improve it," said Robbie Sugg, a freshman art major.
In spite of the flyers, some students weren't aware of the issue.
"I had no idea that was still in place," said Tri Dou, a junior advertising major. Neither did Erica Figueroa.
Figueroa, an undeclared freshman, however, said, "I don't think that's right. I don't agree with it.
"Well, I think that it's okay to have blood drives on campus, but I think it's wrong that they don't allow gay people, too. I think that gay people shouldn't say anything and do it anyway."
Ky Ngheim, a senior business management and information systems major, said "I would say it's the wrong move because either way, there are still people willing to donate. So, you know, it goes either-or really - depending on how you view it.
"I don't really care, so if someone wants to donate, they should be able to. They shouldn't ban it from happening."
Related Stories:
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
Feb. 4, 2008: Opinion: Making a deadly situation worse
Poll: Do you agree with SJSU's blood drive ban?
Other Links:
Letter from President Kassing
Other links from the President's office
"They decided it was discriminatory," said Melinda Chu-Yang, coordinator of peer health education.
The Food and Drug Administration placed a lifetime deferral on men who have had sex with other men since the AIDS outbreak in 1977.
Still, Chu-Yang said, "I understand a lot of students give blood, but there are other outlets, so it's not the end of the world.
"I think it was a good decision, and it seems like the university supports it."
Not everybody shares her opinion.
Jonathan Hodges, an SJSU alumnus of December 2007, said, "Students make up a lot of the donations. We should do everything possible to make it happen. This decision is a step backwards."
Hodges first heard about the ban on SJSU blood drives in the Feb. 1 issue of the San Jose Mercury News.
He said that his initial reaction was shock and disappointment.
Hodges designed flyers asking the SJSU community to contact President Kassing, and he printed them out over the weekend. He then came on campus last Tuesday to hand them out at the Student Union.
Hodges said Kassing should form a lobbying group as opposed to a ban on blood drives.
"Lob the FDA. Don't take it out on people who need blood and have nothing to do with this decision," he said.
Lisa Benham, a graduate student, said she hopes the FDA repeals the ban.
"They should continue to screen for blood diseases, maybe even do more research to refine technology and improve it," said Robbie Sugg, a freshman art major.
In spite of the flyers, some students weren't aware of the issue.
"I had no idea that was still in place," said Tri Dou, a junior advertising major. Neither did Erica Figueroa.
Figueroa, an undeclared freshman, however, said, "I don't think that's right. I don't agree with it.
"Well, I think that it's okay to have blood drives on campus, but I think it's wrong that they don't allow gay people, too. I think that gay people shouldn't say anything and do it anyway."
Ky Ngheim, a senior business management and information systems major, said "I would say it's the wrong move because either way, there are still people willing to donate. So, you know, it goes either-or really - depending on how you view it.
"I don't really care, so if someone wants to donate, they should be able to. They shouldn't ban it from happening."
Related Stories:
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
Feb. 4, 2008: Opinion: Making a deadly situation worse
Poll: Do you agree with SJSU's blood drive ban?
Other Links:
Letter from President Kassing
Other links from the President's office
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