Commons Defends Blood Drive Policy

Author: [no author name found]

In response to the letter in the September 25th edition of The Campus written by Kristina Rudd '03, the Atwater Commons Council does not feel that we should cease our sponsorship of the fall blood drive. While we understand her concern and also abhor any prejudice against homosexuals, Rudd fails to see that the purpose of the policy in question is not discrimination, but precaution.
In fact, this policy is a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulation with which all blood banks, both public and private, must comply, not just the American Red Cross. If the issue is discrimination, our only choice would be to hold no blood drives at all. Since blood supplies in this country are always critically low, we would hate to drop this program or discourage people from participating because of a FDA regulation. Imagine a person in desperate need of blood but unable to receive a transfusion because of protests against the organization that supplies it, an organization complying with a uniform federal regulation. Blood donation is essential to the health and well-being of our community and our nation, and is one simple thing we can do to help. Even those who are disqualified from donating may participate by volunteering at the blood drive instead.
When we have to weigh political correctness against the lives and health of other people, we hope the choice is clear.

Atwater Commons