The Maneater
University of Missouri (Columbia)
August 10, 2004
By Jordan Crean
The American Red Cross destroyed 81 units of blood donated by members of sorority Gamma Phi Beta because of an e-mail sent by member Christie Key through the sorority's listserv last semester.
"I don't care if you got a tattoo last week -- LIE," the e-mail stated. "I don't care if you have a cold. Suck it up. We all do. LIE ... Even if you are going to use the 'Do Not Use My Blood' sticker, GIVE ANYWAY."
The Red Cross destroyed the blood with the approval of the Food and Drug Administration, Red Cross spokesman Jim Williams said.
"The blood was destroyed just as a safety precaution," Williams said. "We don't know who read the e-mail or who went along with what it said. We want to make sure the blood was as safe as possible."
Key apologized for the e-mail and faced disciplinary action from the sorority and university.
"My intention was not to spread tainted blood," Key said in an earlier interview with The Maneater. "I thought I was taking a responsible stance by saying use the 'do not use my blood' sticker."
The Red Cross did not originally make the information regarding the destroyed blood public. Williams said the organization did not want to cause unnecessary alarm.
"That blood's gone," Williams said. "We're looking for blood now. Our hospitals are empty. Right now we are at a critical stage. Literally, we could be out of blood next week."
Director of Greek Life Janna Basler said the Red Cross let Greek Life know they were destroying the units.
"I trust in whatever decision they make," she said. "They are the health care professionals who are the ones to make the call regarding the use of blood obtained at any blood drive, not just the Greek Week drive."
She said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs is forming a task force to examine competition among greek students in all events, including Greek Week.
"I think it's always good to do a little health check on events that get as big as ours do," Basler said. "It can never hurt."
Williams said the Red Cross will continue to work with Greek Life in the Homecoming and Greek Week blood drives, but they will be making some changes.
"We're going to be educating the sororities and fraternities a little bit better," he said. "We're just going to make sure we have an adequate and safe supply of blood."
Earlier this summer, Gamma Phi Beta's national office sanctioned the sorority for the e-mail. Each sorority member is required to volunteer two hours with the Red Cross. New members will not be required to do the volunteer work.
Gamma Phi Beta's national office could not be reached for comment.
"We'll be more than happy to have them," Williams said. "They'll see people coming in and why they're coming. Maybe they'll hear some personal stories and they'll see why it's important that blood is safe."
Anyone interested in donating blood can call 1-800-GIVELIFE.
(C) 2003 The Maneater
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