Mizzou sorority members urged to lie about health during blood

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Members of a University of Missouri-Columbia sorority were urged to lie about their health to qualify as donors in a competitive campus blood drive, prompting the American Red Cross to reassure the public Monday its blood supplies are safe.

The university was investigating. Meanwhile, Gamma Beta Phi's campus adviser called the directive to lie "completely inappropriate," and campus fraternity and sorority leaders said blood drive rules were being changed because of "unethical practices."

The American Red Cross discourages donations from those who are sick or recently received tattoos or piercings, to avoid risks from hepatitis and other diseases, and to protect the health of donors.

Donors who have second thoughts at the donation site can discreetly attach a sticker to a health questionnaire indicating their blood shouldn't be used. The American Red Cross said such donations are destroyed, and that all donations are routinely tested for safety.

In an e-mail sent last Tuesday to about 170 members of Gamma Phi Beta, sophomore 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. Even if youre going to use the Do Not Use My Blood sticker, GIVE ANYWAY." The e-mail's distribution was first reported Sunday by the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Sororities and fraternities conducted the blood drive last Wednesday and Thursday. It's a campus Greek Week 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.

Greek chapters are awarded points and recognition for rounding up blood donors, so campus prestige is on the line. But Jim Williams, a St. Louis-based spokesman for the American Red Cross, said the organization strongly discourages any actions that could jeopardize the blood supply.

"I don't know why the young lady would encourage such a thing. We have emphasized from day one it is not necessary for each girl to donate, so it is a waste," Williams said Monday. "We don't want them to jeopardize their health. They are encouraged to simply invite a substitute donor."

About 3,300 units of blood were collected at the Missouri event. Williams said the Red Cross hasn't noted "an unusual percentage increase" in donations from the campus drive bearing disqualifying stickers, which he said are a "last resort" if a donor suddenly has qualms.

'We're not messing around'

Key, a sophomore from St. Louis, declined comment Monday and referred questions to Gamma Phi Beta's chapter president, who did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

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

However, the rules for the blood drive stress that members and chapters may not be punished for failing to donate. A day after the blood drive ended, Gamma Beta Phi's chapter president sent an e-mail to members reiterating the rules.

Cathy Scroggs, a campus vice chancellor, said the university had turned an investigation and consideration of discipline for the sorority over to the university staff that supervises Greek activities.

"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."

A statement from student organizers of Greek Week said "necessary changes" are being made in the competition rules because of "unethical practices that go against the values of our Greek community and the American Red Cross and advice provided by both organizations," the Missourian reported.

Campus fraternity and sorority leaders did not immediately return calls from the AP, nor did officials from Gamma Phi Beta's national office.

But Chris Linder, a law student who serves as the chapter's adviser, said the e-mail was "completely inappropriate and a huge mistake." She said the chapter planned a meeting Monday to discuss it.