2008 Woodie Awards
On-campus blood drives still an issue
Cheyenne Lee
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
In yet another twist to the saga of the blood drive ban, the president of Associated Students Inc (ASI) said Wednesday that undisclosed members of the Queer Straight Alliance differed with mathematics professor Rick Luttmann, an outspoken supporter of the ban.
"They felt it was discriminatory, but it was not fair to punish the blood banks for it because it was the FDA's policy and the blood banks can't change it," said Derek Pierre, ASI President. "They had reasons. They had very valid reasons."
Pierre said the Academic Senate did not consult with anybody when they passed their resolution in favor by a vote of 21 to 13 on April 24.
"The Blood-Bank policy is blatantly and unnecessarily discriminatory against certain members of the Sonoma State University community; and if no action is taken, this discriminatory policy will remain in place indefinitely," the Academic Senate said in its resolution which upheld the university's no-discrimination policy on sex and gender. "Sonoma State University would be joining a nationwide movement with many universities and other organizations in attempting to force the government to confront and reverse this discriminatory gesture."
The Blood Bank of the Redwoods, who run the blood drives, said at a Feb. 27 ASI meeting that they believe the policy should be changed and they want to help change it, but they wanted to keep the blood drive on campus. Without the SSU blood drive, five percent of the Sonoma County population would be affected. They said that currently 38 percent of the county population can donate and only five percent do donate.
The ASI however voted to keep the blood drives April 2, which President Ruben Armiñana upheld the blood drives in his May 30 decision by accepting their resolution to support the blood drives.
"My principal reason for this decision is that the Food and Drug Administration's practice to bar donations from individuals engaged in man-to-man sex has not been determined to be unlawful by any court in this country," Armiñana wrote, adding he recognized the policy's negative impact on gay men.
"They felt it was discriminatory, but it was not fair to punish the blood banks for it because it was the FDA's policy and the blood banks can't change it," said Derek Pierre, ASI President. "They had reasons. They had very valid reasons."
Pierre said the Academic Senate did not consult with anybody when they passed their resolution in favor by a vote of 21 to 13 on April 24.
"The Blood-Bank policy is blatantly and unnecessarily discriminatory against certain members of the Sonoma State University community; and if no action is taken, this discriminatory policy will remain in place indefinitely," the Academic Senate said in its resolution which upheld the university's no-discrimination policy on sex and gender. "Sonoma State University would be joining a nationwide movement with many universities and other organizations in attempting to force the government to confront and reverse this discriminatory gesture."
The Blood Bank of the Redwoods, who run the blood drives, said at a Feb. 27 ASI meeting that they believe the policy should be changed and they want to help change it, but they wanted to keep the blood drive on campus. Without the SSU blood drive, five percent of the Sonoma County population would be affected. They said that currently 38 percent of the county population can donate and only five percent do donate.
The ASI however voted to keep the blood drives April 2, which President Ruben Armiñana upheld the blood drives in his May 30 decision by accepting their resolution to support the blood drives.
"My principal reason for this decision is that the Food and Drug Administration's practice to bar donations from individuals engaged in man-to-man sex has not been determined to be unlawful by any court in this country," Armiñana wrote, adding he recognized the policy's negative impact on gay men.
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