Monday, September 11, 2006

057 STUDENTS HELP ‘GET PUMPED FOR FOOTBALL’ IN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Date: Sept. 8, 2006

Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Student programming contact: Jennifer Kirk, 615-898-2590



(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU’s athletic marketing department rolled up its sleeves and conceived the idea as part of the Sept. 14 home football game against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech.
MTSU Student Programming, with MT Athletics and the Student Government Association, got their hearts pumping and implemented it.
In conjunction with the 6 p.m. nationally televised (ESPNU) game, students and others are being encouraged to “Get Pumped for MT Football” and “Donate (Blood) — and Help Wreck Tech!” during an American Red Cross blood drive.
The MTSU community can donate from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sept. 12-13 in Keathley University Center Room 322. (Tennessee Tech held its drive Aug. 30-31.) The contest winner will be announced at halftime.
A Red Cross official said up to 252 students and others could donate during the two-day drive, and added that the event will aid a dire situation.
“The blood supply today (Aug. 6) is the worst it has been all summer,” said Linda Decker, donor resources representative for the Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region.
“It’s a way to get the community and campus involved,” said Jennifer Kirk, event coordination, student programming. “We want to see who can donate the most blood. It’s for a good cause.”
Kirk said the MT-Tech blood drive was crafted as a way to “try to instigate a rivalry. They’ve not played in a while.” The Blue Raiders and Golden Eagles last played in 1998, with MTSU winning 19-16 in Cookeville. MT leads the series that began in 1917, 35-32-7. MTSU left the OVC to move to NCAA Division I-A and now is in the Sun Belt Conference.
Kirk said blood donation guidelines require donors be at least 17 years old, at least 110 pounds, “healthy” and to not have donated blood in the last 56 days.
“‘Healthy’ means that you feel well and can perform normal activities,” Kirk said. “If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, ‘healthy’ also means you’re being treated and the condition is under control.”
For more information, contact Kirk (jkirk@mtsu.edu) at 615-898-2590, or visit redcross.org.
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