Competition between MSU and the University of Michigan will take the form of 13 blood drives held at various locations on and near MSU campus throughout February to promote saving lives and collecting more blood than our rivals.
The American Red Cross is sponsoring the first Blood Drive Face-off Competition between the two schools, which will take place prior to the teams meeting for a hockey game at Joe Louis Arena on March 1.
The student planning committee involved with the blood drive is hoping to collect more than 800 pints of blood from MSU students.
MSU lost a challenge with Penn State University in the fall, collecting 1,316 pints of blood. The Spartans have collected more blood than Penn State in three of the nine competitions.
"The University of Michigan is a closer rival so it seemed natural to pick them for the first winter challenge," said Amy Fulton, a student representative for the American Red Cross.
Fulton, a social relations sophomore, said that if every student who was involved in the blood drive in the fall came and donated against U-M, MSU would easily win.
Mechanical engineering sophomore Nathaniel Kish is a regular blood donor and, although he is a U-M fan, he said he would still donate during the competition.
"It wouldn't really influence my decision," he said. "As long as there is a drive I'd donate."
Ann Kammerer, spokesperson for the Mid-Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross, said the blood drive is a good way for students to show school spirit.
"We just see it as a really healthy competition between two rival schools that shows the ability to work together for a common cause," she said.
Kammerer said 20 percent of the blood used in the United States is donated by students. The American Red Cross relies on college-age people especially in the winter when the blood supply is typically low.
One blood donor could save as many as three lives with a single donation and the amount of blood MSU is expected to collect will generate enough to save about 2,400 lives.
For the first time during blood drives at MSU, the Red Cross will sponsor a site to donate in the Northern Tier.
The Village at Chandler Crossings has made a location for students who live far from campus.
"The entire process of donating blood takes about one hour," Kammerer said.
Most of the time is spent filling out paperwork to register and answering a confidential medical history questionnaire. The donation itself only takes six to 10 minutes.
The event will conclude with an awards presentation at the hockey game.
