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Red Cross pledges action on blood drive dispute By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University students met with representatives of the American Red Cross to discuss eligibility guidelines they say discriminate against homosexuals. In the end, Red Cross officials said they would bring SOU's concerns to the highest level. The discussion forum, hosted by SOU's Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Trans and Ally Student Union (LBGTASU), brought together more than 40 campus community members for a 90-minute forum Wednesday in Diversions, a campus club located in the Stevenson Union. The forum was an opportunity to ask questions of the Red Cross and to clarify why students opted to forgo holding a spring blood drive on campus - a decision that has put SOU in the national spotlight. "It is amazing that we have really high visibility, a voice that's being heard and we are creating dialogue that will hopefully bring about change and that's incredibly powerful," said Deanna Leitner, representative of the LBGTASU. At the forum, Leitner, among others present, expressed concern over a Red Cross eligibility questionnaire which identifies men who have had sex with other men since 1977 as unqualified donors. "We want to make it clear that we have never been against the Red Cross, but we are against discrimination," she said. " We would like to see the Red Cross support the gay and bisexual community and to dispel fear raised by that question. Culturally, it perpetuates the idea that if you have had male-to-male sex you automatically have AIDS." David Adkins-Brown, SOU multicultural senator, said that high risk sexual behaviors can be identified within any group of people and that there are many gay men who are in monogamous relationships that don't fit into the high-risk category. "Have you had sex with someone who's high risk? Have you been tested? Those are the questions that should be asked," Adkins-Brown said. "I'm really asking can we change the wording to be more factual and up to date." Representatives from the Red Cross said they do not have the authority to change the questionnaire, adding the Food and Drug Administration regulates the eligibility requirements which are reviewed periodically by the Blood Products Advisory Committee. However, students' concerns did not fall on deaf ears, according to Lance Trainor, chief medical officer of the Portland-based Pacific Northwest region of the Red Cross. "We will, I promise you that, voice the concerns of the individuals present," Trainor said, adding he has not yet had contact with the FDA regarding the issue. SOU student advocate Amanda Guidero - who helps organize on-campus blood drives - said she made the decision not to host the blood drive this spring term because the SOU Student Senate did not have time to host the event, and because of student concerns with the eligibility requirements which exclude gay or bisexual men from donating. She noted the university has held two blood drives already this year. Guidero said the decision has spurred a flurry of interest. "The first two days after the story was published, every time I sent a response to an e-mail, I received much, much more," Guidero said. Guidero subsequently forwarded all e-mails to Diane Brimmer, vice president of student affairs. The university has continued to field calls from an assortment of national media regarding the decision. According to Brimmer, "SOU supports the students' rights of free speech and upholds the university's anti-discrimination policy. It also highly values and supports the Red Cross and its hard work to maintain blood supplies for the country." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -