San Jose State Bans Blood Drives
San Jose State University has banned blood drives on campus because of the FDA's long-standing policy barring gay men from donating blood, the Spartan Daily reports. The school's president says the FDA's restrictions violate SJSU's nondiscrimination policy. "I recognize the importance of giving blood and we know that universities are a significant source of blood," he wrote in an E-mail sent to faculty, staff, students, and alumni. "Our hope is that the FDA will revisit its deferral policy in a timely manner, and we may soon be able to hold blood drives on this campus again."
Critics are calling the move "terribly misguided," saying blood drives on the San Jose campus bring in an estimated 1,000 pints a year. High school and college campuses also account for about 20 percent of all donated blood, and blood drives are often where students develop the habit of becoming lifelong donors.
Tags: San Jose State University
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The Death of Rational Thought? Really...?
The FDA's policies are beyond outdated. The original reason for this restriction was to make sure that donated blood was not tainted by HIV or AIDS. Yes, 48 percent of AIDS cases were contracted from Male-Male sexual contact, but all blood banks now test for HIV/AIDS in their blood. That being the case, what is the FDA's reason for keeping this restriction? It boils down to basic discrimination. This is not a case of being overly PC, this was an attempt to force the FDA to get rid of an outmoded restriction. As quoted in this article, Kassing "hope[s]... that the FDA will revisit its deferral policy in a timely manner...". He obviously dislikes his policy as much as his critics, but he cannot allow discrimination on his campus. The only ideology that has lead to flawed public policy is the FDA's policy to keep outmoded restrictions. When the FDA sees its policy for what it is and decides to change it, only then can we break the chains of hate and discrimination.
- Russ T. Cobb (if that is your real name)- "the 'el presidente'"? a little redundant don't you think?
- Jason B- it really IS a ban on gay men. They ask SPECIFICALLY if you have ever had sex with another man
- and for those ignorant people who continue to suggest that gay blood would be bad for a straight person (like the president): gay is not a contagious disease and you have no chance of receiving HIV/AIDS from their blood because ALL blood banks test blood for those diseases.
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The death of rational thought
SJS President is infected with irrationality. He is severelly misguided in his PC philosophy This has nothing to do with discrimination and everything to do with rationality and the greater public health.
If political correctness and soothing consciences is more important that rationality and doing what is safest and best for the public heath, than we are in trouble. Shame on SJS University President-- he caved into PC and people will suffer for his moral cowardice. How crazy is the world in which political correctness is the one and only gospel. In the world of PC, truth is sacrificed in order to not offend anyone. PC is a dangerous ideology that will only lead to flawed public policy.
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