RED CROSS

The University of Vermont will allow the American Red Cross to continue holding blood drives on its campus, despite complaints that the nonprofit group’s prohibition on accepting blood from sexually active gay men is discriminatory, reports the Associated Press. The head of the universitys affirmative-action office had recommended that the university curb its Red Cross blood drives after a former student suggested that allowing the campaigns violated the university’s antidiscrimination policy. But the university disagreed. “Donating blood is an individual choice and action—not rising to the definition of protected activity in the case of discrimination or equal protection,” said Michael Gower, the university’s vice president for administration, in a letter describing the university’s position.