Mississippi State students will soon get another chance to beat rivals University of Mississippi and Southern Mississippi in a bowl competition.
However, the competition is not one involving competing athletic teams shedding their blood, sweat and tears. University students donate their own blood and time for academic pride. Whichever school donates the most blood wins.
The Transylvania Bowl, in its 24th year, is an intercollegiate blood drive competition between UM, MSU and USM to see which school can donate the most blood in its name.
Mississippi Blood Services, started the bowl as a way to raise more awareness and blood donors in the state.
The blood donation drive will be held on campus Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rooms 301 and 302 of The Colvard Union. The drive will also be held Friday in the conference room at Comfort Suites from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
According to the Mississippi Blood Services Web site, MSU came in second in the 2002 bowl, donating 262 pints of blood. UM came in first place, donating 322 pints of blood, while USM came in third with 151 pints.
Lauren Cooper, Panhellenic community service chair, said in previous bowls MSU has never been able to hold the blood drive on campus for more than one day. This year, administration is allowing the blood drive to take place on campus for two days.
While UM has previously won the last four consecutive bowls, Cooper believes that this year MSU has a greater chance of winning since more time is being given to the drive held on campus.
Student donors may receive free T-shirts, drinks and food for donating. The bowl also traditionally provides the winning university a $1,000 scholarship for one of the donating students.
However, donating blood serves another important purpose than just helping MSU win the bowl.
“The blood supply is extremely low right now in Mississippi, and there is no substitute for human blood. Our goal is to raise 250 units of blood during this drive,” Cooper said.
Kevin Jackson, marketing representative for Mississippi Blood Services, reiterated the need for blood donation.
“In our hospitals in Mississippi, we try to provide about 200 units of blood each day-that’s a lot of blood,” Jackson said.
“The blood isn’t just restricted to adults. Children battling cancer still need donations,” he added.
As the population demands are growing, the donation base is staying the same or decreasing because many adults can no longer donate, Jackson said.
Donations allow hospitals to have blood on hand for emergency situations. Since it takes about 72 hours to process blood, donations are very important, Jackson said.
“I think (donating blood) is very important and it’s the least I can do or the most I can do. I think it saves lives and that’s a good thing,” said Stephen Mason, who is a sophomore in biological engineering.
Cooper stressed the importance of donating blood. “By age 76, 95 percent of Americans will have used donated blood at some point in their life. Out of all eligible donors in America, only 4 percent give blood. One donation can save three lives,” Cooper said.
Cooper provided some advice for first-time donors.
“Make sure you eat a good breakfast, come on up to the third floor, and don’t be nervous! It’s really not as big of a deal as you would think it is,” Cooper said.
Jackson stressed the importance of eating a full meal before donating and also recommended drinking two glasses of water prior to donating blood. He said these steps will reduce the lightheadedness associated with donating.