 "Photo: Jeremy Aaron/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK")
A record number of donors contributed to USC’s victory last week in the 25th Annual Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, exceeding its goal and beating Clemson by almost 1,000 donors.
The results were announced at 8:30 p.m. Friday and revealed that the total number of donors for Carolina was 4,542 and the total for Clemson was 3,480. Carolina exceeded the goal of 4,500 and will receive the blood drive trophy at the Carolina-Clemson game on Nov. 28 in Williams-Brice Stadium.
“We had an overwhelming amount of donors this year,” said Amanda Gruskos, Carolina’s head of the PR/Advertising Committee for the blood drive.
There was more blood collected at USC on Tuesday than by the Columbia blood services region on September 11, 2001, said Mindi Thommes, Carolina’s head chair of external affairs for the blood drive.
“This year our committees worked really hard to publicize the event,” Thommes, a fourth-year chemistry student, said in response to why there was such a large turnout.
Thommes said that new processes, such as nurses working in groups, allowed for a greater number of participants this year. Despite these changes, however, the large volume of donors led to a two-hour wait on Wednesday and students said they experienced long waits on other days as well.
“We are hoping to get a few more locations next year to make the process even faster,” Thommes said, listing the Coliseum and Russell House as possible places to expand.
Erin Cota, Carolina’s internal head chair for the blood drive, said that a variety of people donated blood. In addition to students, there were parents, faculty/staff, locals and Ft. Jackson military personnel, said Cota, a fifth-year Spanish and pre-physician’s assistant student.
Tuesday was also Alumni Day, Cota said, so volunteers from the Alumni Association worked the blood drive from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and alumni donated all day.
Like in past years, the winners of the raffle will be chosen after Thanksgiving break.
Gruskos said that the committees are already choosing leaders for next year and working on improving the capacity so that students will not have to wait as long.
When asked why they decided to give blood despite the long wait, students provided varying answers that extended beyond the Carolina-Clemson rivalry.
Devan McClure, a fifth-year art education student, said she donated to make a difference because she has type A negative blood, which is specifically needed for premature babies.
McClure learned this at the blood drive last year and now donates often.
Other students said they were encouraged by friends or roommates.
“My roommates told me I was a wuss if I didn’t donate,” said Mike Arone, a fourth-year political science student.
Similarly, Andrew Henning, a fourth-year public relations student, said he donated blood for the first time this year after being encouraged by his roommate who is a nursing major.
Of course, beating Clemson was also a factor for many students.
“I just want to beat Clemson and it’s for a good cause,” said Sarah Simmons, a second-year nursing student.
Daniel Hains, a second-year political science and social work student, also felt a mix between the competitive aspect and doing the right thing.
“I know it can save a lot of lives and beating Clemson is always fun,” Hains said.
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