The Homecoming Committee is currently sponsoring a blood drive that will last through the rest of the week. So far, the drive is proving to be a success, according to Red Cross team supervisor at the Young Blood campus donation center Denise Henningfield.
Henningfield also said this is the first year that the Homecoming Committee is holding the blood drive for the entire week of homecoming.
The reason for the expanded drive is “to spread out the number of students who used to come on Thursday and Friday,” according to Henningfield. She explained that past homecoming blood drives were held only on the last two days of the work week, and students often had to wait in long lines because of the time crunch.
All students are encouraged to donate, and according to University of Wisconsin senior Adam Miller, many students can earn points for on-campus groups they would like to support as a result of their donation.
“Groups [such as Greek, student and housing organizations] get points toward their overall total,” Miller said. The total points for each group are then added up in order to declare a winner, and the competition is pretty fierce among various groups.
“The goal this year is 300 pints,” Miller said.
Young Blood volunteer and Homecoming Committee participant Dave Rocklewitz thought that many of the student donors only gave blood because their group will receive points if they have the most donors, but he also believes that homecoming pushes them to contribute.
“It still gets them out,” the UW senior said, as he helped pass out lemonade and crackers to donors who just finished giving blood. But he added that donating is especially important at this time, and contributors do not have any selfish motives.
UW freshmen Jason Russell and Asia Comeau donated on behalf of Babcock House and Kronshage, respectively, not only to get credit for homecoming points, but for personal reasons as well.
“I’m a good person,” Comeau said.
” … and modest as well,” Russell finished for her, but said that he just remembered that the blood drive was this week and it is “just something you do.”
“It’s good to give blood for the free food,” Comeau continued. She said that one can seriously feel “warm and fuzzy inside” after they give blood, and she personally feels better physically the days following her donation.
UW faculty member Steve Swallen also gave blood Tuesday afternoon after he received a phone call from the Red Cross.
“[I found out about the blood drive] after the Red Cross called me,” Swallen revealed. “It’s always a good thing to do when you help other people.”
Even though Swallen noted the positive aspects of donating, he said it is not for everybody.
“I tried to convince someone to donate once, and it was a failure,” Swallen said. “I won’t do that again.”
Other homecoming events highlighted this week are a movie night Tuesday at University Square Theaters, and upcoming events like Wednesday night’s “Yell Like Hell” spirit parade, and a parade on State Street Friday to build momentum for Saturday’s homecoming football game against Purdue University.
