I am appalled and astounded by the recent Tufts' Blood drive held Oct. 16-18. Giving blood has never bothered or affected me and I think it is extremely important for all able individuals to donate. I found a rare block of free time on Monday and so I ventured over to Hodgdon. Upon entering the lounge I immediately saw a large number of people waiting in the halls. After approaching the desk I was told that I could either wait for an hour and a half before a nurse could even see me or I could come back another day. At this point I was pretty disappointed in the organization of the drive, but I figured I had two more days to try to squeeze in. Wednesday afternoon I journeyed into Carmichael only to be told that they weren't even accepting walk-ins. This being the last day of the drive I found that I, a healthy and willing individual, was unable to donate blood because of a shortage of space and facilities.
How can this be? How can an organization whose mission is to solicit blood donations deny a healthy individual the opportunity to give blood? Blood is always a demanded commodity and, especially during this time of shortage in many counties, all blood is important and badly needed. According to the American Red Cross there is a severe shortage nationwide and they are asking for all immediate donations to boost critically low supplies. Although Boston is not a city identified as one of the areas hardest hit, there is still a scant supply and life-saving facilities can never have enough.
According to the volunteers at the blood drive, I was denied because I did not have an appointment. Being an upperclassman, I rarely, if ever enter the dining halls where there are people signing up potential donors. I did not see a single sign posted by my dorm soliciting for the upcoming drive. I knew about the drive only through random signs around campus and ads in the Daily. Why wasn't there tabling done in the campus center or other places that upperclassmen frequent? I was unaware that giving blood is a "freshmen and sophomore thing." Apparently I have been behind the times since the rest of the student population was unintentionally discouraged from donating.
I know it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of volunteers who will actually come through and donate blood. Last spring there was quite a disappointing turn-out, so how could the organizers truly know what was going to happen this time? However, based on the number of people who signed up for an appointment, the organizers should have also accounted for the scores of people, especially upperclassmen, who planned on walking in on an infrequent moment of free time wanting to do something beneficial for the community.
Since the demand has risen so dramatically, something needs to be done to accommodate this resurgence of volunteers. The drive can take place in both Hodgdon and Carmichael on all three days, huge signs should be posted all around campus letting the potential donators know that an appointment is imperative, or drives can be held more frequently so that people who were unable to donate the first time will have the chance to a few weeks later. I am concerned and a bit disturbed by the events in this recent blood drive. No one should ever be denied giving blood because there isn't enough room or sufficient facilities.
Abby Volin is a junior majoring in quantitative economics. She is layout editor for the Daily.
