Students lined up along the side of the student center stage to give blood on Tuesday.
“It hurts for a second, but it feels good after because you know someone who needs the blood will get it,” sociology major Veronica Lopez said.
The Red Cross blood drive was held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Expected feelings of nervousness as well as satisfaction were popular among those waiting.
Lopez was at the event to donate blood for the second time. “Last year I couldn’t donate because my veins were too small.”
She went on to explain that although she wasn’t able to donate last year, she is back to donate again because she believes it is important and wants to help.
Catalina Castellanos, business administration, was nervous about giving blood for the first time.
“I work in a hospital, but I’ve never had my blood drawn,” she said.
Both feel that it is important to give blood.
“I see on the news that if you have the opportunity to donate blood you should,” Lopez said, “especially right now.”
The reasons for giving blood are as varied as the givers.
Lee Evans, an English major and grant writer for the office of development explained that she worked with people who donate and felt guilty for never giving blood.
“If my children needed blood I would want it to be there,” she said.
Evans feels that everyone should give blood because, “it’s a resource we all rely on, so we should contribute.”
Zoltan Kovacs, a volunteer at the booth, also believes that everyone should donate blood.
“I believe in karma,” he said. “If you want something good to happen, you have to do something good.”
Most agree that giving blood doesn’t look like fun, but after the fact it is rewarding and less scary than anticipated.
“People think it’s going to be scarier than it is,” Evans remarked. “People think it’s going to scarier than it is. People are really afraid of the process, but it’s not a big deal.
Ryan Steinke, paralegal, said that after getting over the fear of the needle, it’s a brand new sensation. You’re helping a human being.”
“People fear dying,” he said, ” so what is the point of fearing a needle?”
