I write to [UTB/TSC President Juliet V. García] today to express my deepest concerns and dissatisfaction following the [Texas] Department of [State] Health [Services’] visit and news about tuberculosis exposure. I feel that exposure could have been avoided if the university had taken proactive measures. Consequently, I urge you to endorse a policy that requires all students be tested for tuberculosis and treated if necessary prior to admission to the university.

 I believe that it is in the best interest of the university to endorse this request and provide certain safeguards to the university community. No student, staff or faculty member should be deprived of safeguards that will protect the entire community. I ask that the university move quickly to implement my request for the 2008 Fall Semester.

 According to the information afforded to me, the state of Texas does not mandate tuberculosis screenings in universities. While the state does not require this safeguard, I believe the UTB/TSC administration should. I believe it is the duty of the university to have protocols that protect the university community, even if they are not required by law.

 We live in a high-risk area for tuberculosis. Lack of a university policy to screen for TB has resulted in psychological distress, inconvenience and loss of class and work time for hundreds of members of the university community. I respectfully request that the university develop a policy for energetically addressing threats to our health.   

Estela Martinez

Sophomore business major