As the student voice of the American Red Cross at the University, we recognize and appreciate Gary Graca's column Wednesday (Give life (unless you're gay), 02/13/2008) that acknowledged a problematic and potentially divisive Food and Drug Administration policy that says "men who have had sex with other men at least once since 1977 are barred for life from giving blood." He proposed banning blood drives on campus. After discussing the issue with the CEO of the Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region Diane Ward, she responded, "We admire Mr. Graca's desire to grow the blood supply, but until the FDA policy is changed, we need to ensure that we have all available resources to save lives. Any action that impedes our ability to collect blood in the short term impacts the safety of our community." The implications of the FDA policy are serious. However, the Red Cross is at the forefront of combating this policy, which is no longer medically and scientifically warranted and consequently restricts the donor base.

With only 38 percent of the U.S. population eligible to donate blood and only a very small percentage of that group actually doing so, the Red Cross is, as Graca wrote, "caught in a crossfire." As the representatives of the student groups responsible for coordinating Red Cross drives on campus, our primary goal is the collection of blood to save lives. We support the Red Cross and any other organization in their endeavors to change the FDA's policy. But at the same time, we struggle with an immediate solution to the problem. The hospitals and patients that depend on the donations from our drives are our primary concern.

Over the course of a year, our organizations hold more than 50 blood drives at the University. The pints donated at the annual Blood Battle could potentially save more than 6,000 lives. Blood Battle has proven that it's the spirit of the rivalry and loyalty to the University that motivate so many students, faculty, staff and alumni to donate blood. The 26-year-old competition has transformed a rivalry based on hating others into a partnership based on saving them. It is important to recognize that just as the blood donated by a Buckeye could very well go to a Wolverine, blood donations made at any drive go to anyone and everyone who needs them.

Graca's proposed solution to coordinate blood drives at near- or off-campus locations - like St. Mary Student Parish, which already hosts drives year-round - would not represent a win-win situation when you recognize the impact of the University drives. With University students representing the majority of the donor base, a large percentage of which are first time donors, holding blood drives off campus would significantly decrease the yearly blood collection. It would also severely reduce the possibility of attracting new donors and discourage past donors from continuing to donate.

Our yearly pint collections make the University the region's fourth largest source of blood. They are a direct result of the presence and convenience of blood drive locations at buildings and residence halls across campus. These locations provide the opportunity for people to donate and also raise awareness about the need for blood in the community.

Currently, blood drives may not give everyone the chance to save lives, but in order to come together to fight the FDA's policy, we must remember that the blood raised by the University's drives contribute to saving the lives of all who need it. On a campus that prides itself on loyalty, let us come together to raise pints and combat discrimination, not by reducing our donor base, but by continuing to support it. Blood drives provide the uniquely altruistic opportunity to save the life of someone you may never meet.

So while the policy may discriminate in its outcome, its intent is not discriminatory. A solution to the problem is not attacking the Red Cross and eliminating blood drives on campus, but coming together to combat the policy at its core. If our ultimate goal is to grow the donor base, we can't begin to pursue that goal by shrinking it.

Dr. Robertson Davenport, medical director of the University Health System's Blood Bank, responded to the potential removal of blood drives from campus by saying, "I wear two hats: One of the University, one of the Red Cross. We use a heck of a lot of blood here. Whatever hurts our ability to collect blood hurts all of us."

Michael Diamond, Caitie Hill, Brian Talpos and Laura Yocky are representatives of Blood Drives United. Jennifer Macdonald, Stephanie Price and Megan Rafferty are representatives of the Washtenaw County American Red Cross Club.