U. student leaders were hoping their peers would roll up their sleeves in bigger numbers at this week's Bleed Red blood drive.
The early returns were promising: The U. set a single-day record Monday when 218 units of blood were collected on campus. But as of Friday afternoon, just a few hours before all the needles would be packed away, U. students had contributed 1,000 units. The Aggies' week-long total of 1,235 units, gathered over the first week of school in an event called the Blood Battle, proved unbeatable.
But USU's 10-year losing streak on the football field is unlikely to end Saturday. Las Vegas bookmakers favor the Utes by 24 points in the 107th meeting of one of the nation's longest-running collegiate rivalries.
The annual bleed-off was launched several years ago to spice up the rivalry's second century and has been dominated by the Aggies every year but the first. Both schools generate more blood with each competition.
"My goal is to beat last year's record [of 762 units]," said Stanley Lloyd, community service director for the U.'s student association. "The competition is fun, but in reality our goal is to get enough blood to supply [the blood bank]. It's startling how much blood they need."
Elyse Arrington became one of those in need a few years ago after a ski-racing crash at Brian Head. She collided with a coach and ruptured her spleen.
"I lost half the blood in my body," said the U. English major after donating at the Olpin Student Union on Tuesday. "Needles scared me to death and I got over that quickly. We are very low on blood because people are needing more every day. My body will produce more, so why not give blood?"
The blood services wing of ARUP (Associated Regional and University Pathologists), supplies Salt Lake City's U.-affiliated hospitals, processing 23,000 units a year. The Red Cross handles the more productive Aggie drive.
"People get stuck in the rut thinking that community service is raking leave or shovelling snow. It's so much more. It's tutoring kids, giving blood," Lloyd said. "It's something that affects our entire community and you can have a direct impact."
For student leaders, boosting civic involvement is the bleed-off's most important goal.
"Knowing that this blood really can save lives, that's something that sticks with you," said USU student leader Brett Healy, who led the blood drive on the Logan campus.
