Spring Break
Controversy no longer local
Chris Bausinger
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: News
In the wake of SJSU President Don Kassing's decision to suspend all on-campus blood drives, media outlets from around the United States are taking notice to the issue.
Last week, Kassing had to decide whether to break university policy and allow the blood drives on campus to continue or to ignore the university's nondiscrimination policy as it relates to the blood donation process.
The decision is "believed to be the first by a U.S. College," according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News.
According to Kassing's e-mail message to the campus community Jan. 29, he wrote: "I am suspending all blood drives at San Jose State University on the grounds that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's lifetime blood donor deferral affecting gay men violates our non-discrimination policy."
College newspapers across the United States have recently reported on the suspension without taking a stand.
The Badger Herald, which is the University of Wisconsin's newspaper, reported on the story and said that if their school followed in SJSU's footsteps it would have a significant effect on blood banks.
In an editorial by the Spectrum, the University of Buffalo's newspaper in New York, they agree that the process of banning gay men from donating blood is a cause worthy of protest.
But they wrote that, "Banning blood drives on SJSU's 30,000-person campus will only hurt many innocent people in the community."
Radio and TV stations have also picked up the topic. KGO radio in San Francisco, KRIV television in Houston and WBAL radio in Maryland are just some of the stations running broadcasts about the controversy.
SJSU seems to be alone when it comes to suspending the blood drives. A number of news mediums are agreeing that discrimination is a problem, but they do not see the logic in banning the drives.
"The administration's decision, though commended by some gay-rights groups," said Antoinette Jenna Pizzi of the Daily Free Press, "has blood banks worried other universities and institutions will follow in San Jose State's footsteps and cancel blood drives, causing a shortage of blood."
The Daily Free Press is Boston University's independent student newspaper.
Local television news station, KRON Channel 4, ran a special report on the university's decision but highlighted the need for an excess blood supply brought to attention by the Stanford Blood Center.
In that report KRON did not ask potential donors about the process of trying to donate blood. They stressed the importance of donating blood but focused on the shortage instead of providing the public with information on where to go to donate.
SJSU representatives stressed that they are not telling students or faculty that it is wrong to donate blood.
"What San Jose State has done is to take an institutional position based on principles, based on values," said Larry Carr, the university's associate vice president for public affairs.
President Kassing, in his letter to the campus community wrote that he does not want to confuse anyone.
Kassing wrote, "I recognize the importance of giving blood and we know that universities are a significant source of blood … however, lacking further action by the FDA, we are guided by the clear mandates of our non-discrimination policy."
Although the media coverage of the suspension of blood drives has not been completely in favor of president Kassing's decision, it was made on the grounds of conflicting university and FDA policies.
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
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
Last week, Kassing had to decide whether to break university policy and allow the blood drives on campus to continue or to ignore the university's nondiscrimination policy as it relates to the blood donation process.
The decision is "believed to be the first by a U.S. College," according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News.
According to Kassing's e-mail message to the campus community Jan. 29, he wrote: "I am suspending all blood drives at San Jose State University on the grounds that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's lifetime blood donor deferral affecting gay men violates our non-discrimination policy."
College newspapers across the United States have recently reported on the suspension without taking a stand.
The Badger Herald, which is the University of Wisconsin's newspaper, reported on the story and said that if their school followed in SJSU's footsteps it would have a significant effect on blood banks.
In an editorial by the Spectrum, the University of Buffalo's newspaper in New York, they agree that the process of banning gay men from donating blood is a cause worthy of protest.
But they wrote that, "Banning blood drives on SJSU's 30,000-person campus will only hurt many innocent people in the community."
Radio and TV stations have also picked up the topic. KGO radio in San Francisco, KRIV television in Houston and WBAL radio in Maryland are just some of the stations running broadcasts about the controversy.
SJSU seems to be alone when it comes to suspending the blood drives. A number of news mediums are agreeing that discrimination is a problem, but they do not see the logic in banning the drives.
"The administration's decision, though commended by some gay-rights groups," said Antoinette Jenna Pizzi of the Daily Free Press, "has blood banks worried other universities and institutions will follow in San Jose State's footsteps and cancel blood drives, causing a shortage of blood."
The Daily Free Press is Boston University's independent student newspaper.
Local television news station, KRON Channel 4, ran a special report on the university's decision but highlighted the need for an excess blood supply brought to attention by the Stanford Blood Center.
In that report KRON did not ask potential donors about the process of trying to donate blood. They stressed the importance of donating blood but focused on the shortage instead of providing the public with information on where to go to donate.
SJSU representatives stressed that they are not telling students or faculty that it is wrong to donate blood.
"What San Jose State has done is to take an institutional position based on principles, based on values," said Larry Carr, the university's associate vice president for public affairs.
President Kassing, in his letter to the campus community wrote that he does not want to confuse anyone.
Kassing wrote, "I recognize the importance of giving blood and we know that universities are a significant source of blood … however, lacking further action by the FDA, we are guided by the clear mandates of our non-discrimination policy."
Although the media coverage of the suspension of blood drives has not been completely in favor of president Kassing's decision, it was made on the grounds of conflicting university and FDA policies.
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
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
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Garret
posted 2/12/08 @ 8:03 AM PST
But studies show that these men's blood pose a significant health risk; why is this ignored?
Anonymous
posted 2/12/08 @ 11:25 PM PST
Could you please provide a transcript of Kassing's Press conference? Please post it on the site for the hearing impaired.
Shannon Burke
posted 2/13/08 @ 7:54 PM PST
What sort of disciplinary action does Kassing plan to take in the even that students on campus organize blood drive despite the blood ban? I would imagine that he would be in a very awkward position if he found himself expelling or suspending students that wish to hold blood drives. (Continued…)
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