Massachusetts: Harvard Students Protest Health Services' New HIV Testing Policy

Harvard University Health Services (UHS) has discontinued anonymous HIV testing, earning the disapproval of students and at least one faculty member.

"UHS is trying to make this a very undercover issue," said Linda Ellison, a teacher in the Women, Gender and Sexuality department who organized a protest against the new policy.

About 20 students protested outside the University's Holyoke Center on May 20, supporting continuance of anonymous HIV testing through the university.

"If even one person doesn't get tested because there's no anonymous testing, the system has failed," said medical school student Selena Jorgensen.

The protest likely will not have any impact on the policy, said UHS Director David S. Rosenthal, who noted that free anonymous testing still is available throughout the Boston area. He said he had not received any formal complaints from the protesters.

A plan by the protesters to demand anonymous testing en masse was abandoned when they were turned away, lacking an appointment or actual medical ailment.

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