Schools show heart

Once again IU and Purdue are face to face, battling to emerge as the better university. This challenge does not involve a basketball game at Alumni Hall or a soccer game at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Instead, the two schools face off in a competition to collect the most pints of blood for area hospitals. \nThe IU/ Purdue Fan Blood Challenge is an annual competition that takes place every fall. Every pint of blood collected from now until the November 15 will count as one point. At the end of the "Blood \nBattle," the University with the most points will be announced at half-time of the IU vs. Purdue football game. \nTodd Relue, a member of the Indiana University Student Foundation said Purdue won the "battle" last year and has won the last four out of five years. He said he hopes the campus blood drives being held this year will help to tip the scales in IU's favor. Once IU wins, "We will receive a traveling "Blood Battle" trophy, not to mention the pride that comes along with proving once again that we're the better university," he said. \nMike Elsner, a representative from the local Red Cross, said the event is "a fun challenge to get people pumped up … but ultimately it's about saving lives." \nHe emphasized the point that it is a friendly competition that is benefiting a great cause. He did mention, however, that each donor will receive a free IU vs. Purdue T-shirt. \nWhile beating Purdue is always satisfying, the most important reason for donating is because the blood is needed so desperately. The blood supply right now in America is at or below a two-day supply. Students and faculty who donate during the blood drive have the opportunity to change this statistic and save three lives with just one pint of blood.\nRelue and the IUSF are playing an active role in promoting and sponsoring the blood drive. \n"One of the IU Student Foundation's main goals this year is to further its involvement in philanthropic activities," he said. \nThey are doing just that by sponsoring a blood drive during the IU/ Purdue challenge. Their blood drive will be held in the Georgian Room of the IMU on Friday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. \nDonating at one of the campus blood drives will contribute to IU's total. Also, at any time until Nov. 15, anyone can go to the permanent donation site located on 411 E. 7th St. and contribute to IU's score.\nThe Red Cross hopes to collect 700 pints of blood during the "Blood Battle." If beating Purdue isn't enough to inspire the students at IU to donate, consider the possible 2,100 lives that could be saved if the Red Cross meets its goal.