Jan. 12, 1998 Contact Maureen Shine (541) 346-3145 Source: Dr. Gerald Fleischli, director, University Health Center, (541) 346-4447 (Dr. Fleischli will be available after Jan. 20.) Source: Robert Wasson, ASUO multicultural advocate, (541) 346-0631 EUGENE--Responding to a critical need for donors from communities of color, the University of Oregon is embarking on a first-of-its-kind bone marrow registration drive on the UO campus. "There's a serious shortage of people of color in the national marrow donor programs," says Dr. Gerald Fleischli, director of the University Health Center. "We're hoping that this effort will help increase the chances that a tissue match can be found when a person of color is in need of a bone marrow transplant." The donor registration drive is a collaborative effort between the University Health Center; the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO); the Lane Memorial Blood Bank; and the Portland Red Cross, Oregon's link to the National Marrow Donor Program. UO President Dave Frohnmayer is a founding director of the national program. UO students, faculty and staff interested in participating in the marrow donor program registration can pick up forms during a two-day blood drive on campus, set from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 13-14, in the Fir Room of the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave. The Portland Red Cross will screen the forms to determine if a person is eligible to be listed in the national marrow donor registry. The Lane blood bank will perform blood tests and tissue typing on eligible candidates from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the University Health Center, 1590 E. 13th Ave. Anyone on campus is eligible to register to become a marrow donor. People of color may participate in the screening and tissue typing free of charge; otherwise, the fee is $20. "We're hoping that other schools and universities throughout the state will follow the UO's lead in this effort," says Robert Wasson, ASUO multicultural advocate. "Once people know of the critical need for donor registrants among communities of color and how simple it is to be involved, we think people of color will be much better represented in this life-saving effort." For more information about the ongoing marrow donor program, call Dr. Fleischli, (541) 346-4447, or Wasson, 346-0631. -30- #O-4041/Local,OrDailies,PDX