Sorority Urged Members to Lie in Blood Drive

[LXAAlum]

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Members of a sorority were urged to lie about their health to qualify as donors in a competitive blood drive at the University of Missouri-Columbia (search), a school that once set a world record for blood collection.

In an e-mail sent last Tuesday to about 170 members of Gamma Phi Beta (search), Christie Key, the chapter's blood donation coordinator, wrote: "I dont care if you got a tattoo last week LIE. I dont care if you have a cold. Suck it up. We all do. LIE. Recent peircings? LIE."

The sending of the e-mail was first reported Sunday by the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Sororities and fraternities conducted the competitive blood drive last Wednesday and Thursday. It is a campus tradition that in 1999 took in 3,156 units of blood — enough to earn recognition from the Guinness Book of Records as the largest single-site, single-day blood collection.

Jim Williams, a spokesman for the American Red Cross, said the organization discourages any actions that could jeopardize the blood supply, including donations from those who are sick or recently received tattoos or piercings.

"We have emphasized from day one it is not necessary for each girl to donate, so it is a waste," Williams said Monday.

About 3,300 units of blood were collected at the Missouri event.

In her e-mail, Key wrote: "We're not messing around. Punishment for not giving blood is going to be quite severe."

Chris Linder, a law student who serves as the Gamma Phi Beta chapter's adviser, said the e-mail was "completely inappropriate and a huge mistake."

Key declined to comment Monday and referred questions to Gamma Phi Beta's chapter president, who did not immediately return a call.

Cathy Scroggs, a campus vice chancellor, said the university had begun an investigation.

"I would characterize it at this time as one student that is overzealous," Scroggs said. "But we have heard that people have felt pressured to donate blood in the past, and this certainly has caused us to want to take a look at the whole process."

[greencat]

Oh please. It was just an overexcited event coordinator. Do you seriously think someone is going to donate blood if they're squeamish over needles, have been ill, etc.? And if a member is going to allow herself to be persuaded to so by an EMAIL, then there are much larger problems....

This reminds me of a bad after-school special.

[LXAAlum]

This is also posted in Risk Management...sorry...didn't see it before.

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

i don't know, i can imagine that the competitiveness at some schools can be pretty intense, and especially if you are a younger member of a group getting pressured by older members. I can see a pledge in this group feeling like she might be dropped or outcasted for NOT lying...which is what makes this such a big deal. They are basically contaminating all that blood supply (which is meant to HELP others, not hurt) simply to "win". I think that's horrible.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by AlphaPhiBubbles
i don't know, i can imagine that the competitiveness at some schools can be pretty intense, and especially if you are a younger member of a group getting pressured by older members. I can see a pledge in this group feeling like she might be dropped or outcasted for NOT lying...which is what makes this such a big deal. They are basically contaminating all that blood supply (which is meant to HELP others, not hurt) simply to "win". I think that's horrible.

co sign

[GeekyPenguin]

This is the action of one sister, who obviously made a mistake, and I can only hope that her chapter will take action privately.

[sherbertlemons]

Originally posted by AlphaPhiBubbles
i don't know, i can imagine that the competitiveness at some schools can be pretty intense, and especially if you are a younger member of a group getting pressured by older members. I can see a pledge in this group feeling like she might be dropped or outcasted for NOT lying...which is what makes this such a big deal. They are basically contaminating all that blood supply (which is meant to HELP others, not hurt) simply to "win". I think that's horrible.

U'know, to prevent that, when we gave spirit points for blood donation during Greek Week, groups got points for members attempting and being rejected.

[33girl]

Originally posted by sherbertlemons
U'know, to prevent that, when we gave spirit points for blood donation during Greek Week, groups got points for members attempting and being rejected.

That's exactly what I was going to say...there are people who don't know they have low iron in their blood until they go in to donate. It's always a tossup when I go whether my blood will be "acceptable" - and I've never had anything pierced. Additionally, if you're below a certain weight you can't donate - another thing you might not know till you get there. When I was in high school our gym teacher gave us points for attempting to donate, whether we were successful or not.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
This is the action of one sister, who obviously made a mistake, and I can only hope that her chapter will take action privately.

It's going to be real hard for any action to be private in this case. Not sure about the rest of you, but it even made the Seattle paper....

[AXJules]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
It's going to be real hard for any action to be private in this case. Not sure about the rest of you, but it even made the Seattle paper....

This is THAT big of a deal?
I'm not advocating what she did, I think it was stupid...people could die from tainted blood donation. But I will say that a lot of chapters on campus stress that you can give and insist they use the "Do Not Use This Blood" sticker- if anyone reads the article in the Missourian, that's what the GPhi blood coordinator was getting at. She wanted them to lie, and then tell the Red Cross not to use the blood.
Not much better, but different than what the above article leads you to think.

This is a good example of why my house and many others tell you to donate if you can, and refer 4 friends- that way if you are sick or get deferred, there is someone to replace you.

[navane]

Originally posted by AXJules
But I will say that a lot of chapters on campus stress that you can give and insist they use the "Do Not Use This Blood" sticker- if anyone reads the article in the Missourian, that's what the GPhi blood coordinator was getting at. She wanted them to lie, and then tell the Red Cross not to use the blood. Not much better, but different than what the above article leads you to think.

You're right that's not much better; but, I still don't agree with that concept. I don't think it's appropriate to waste the time and supplies of the American Red Cross employees by lying one's way onto the table and then saying "Oh, by the way, don't use that blood."

Here in San Diego, the American Red Cross has reported in recent times that they have a dangerously low blood supply. It just seems very wrong to "get their hopes up" about how many students are donating only to have a percentage of them insist that their blood not be used. Come on! This blood is meant to save people's lives!! Why does it have to be a "competition"?

I like the previously mentioned suggestion of having people get credit for at least attempting to donate.

.....Kelly

[Tippiechick]

It was just mentioned here in Nashville, too. But, at least they called it "Gamma Beta Phi." lol

[deuika]

Can Someone Say PSYCHO?
Is it really THAT serious. Did they get like a gift basket for most blood or something? I mean dang.

What if some of the more naive members actually did feel "told", and gave tainted blood. YES they check it, but there are some who slip the cracks. This is a reach, I know.
But she was just going a wee-bit looney.

[James]

I was once told that we sell blood over seas and that can contribute to shortages.

Originally posted by navane
You're right that's not much better; but, I still don't agree with that concept. I don't think it's appropriate to waste the time and supplies of the American Red Cross employees by lying one's way onto the table and then saying "Oh, by the way, don't use that blood."

Here in San Diego, the American Red Cross has reported in recent times that they have a dangerously low blood supply. It just seems very wrong to "get their hopes up" about how many students are donating only to have a percentage of them insist that their blood not be used. Come on! This blood is meant to save people's lives!! Why does it have to be a "competition"?

I like the previously mentioned suggestion of having people get credit for at least attempting to donate.

.....Kelly

[ASTLuv21]

Personally, the way I see it, being a nursing major, it's a big deal. A person should not lie and say they can donate blood. It's not safe and their blood can cause serious problems and even death. If you know you cannot donate blood due to a recent tattoo or peircing, try getting someone who can donate to go in your place. Also, many people do not know how long you have to wait once getting a new tattoo or peircing, you have to wait a whole year. I also find it not so nice to give blood and then tell the nurse that they can't use it due to an issue. If just puts a damper on the nurse and the rest of the employees at Red Cross. Those nurses go home everyday after a blood drive knowing how many pints of blood that was taken and know how many lives that saves but if they have so many people saying that you can't use their blood, just puts a huge damper on their day. If you know you cannot give blood for sure, don't lie and do so instead bring someone who can in your place.