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Students, faculty and staff who watch SU take on UConn in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., can also donate blood as part of the American Red Cross “Are you up for the challenge?: Give Blood” competition.

For the second year in a row, students, faculty and staff at �鶹Ƶ��University and the University of Connecticut will compete in the annual “Are you up for the challenge?: Give Blood” competition to see which school donates the most pints of blood to the American Red Cross. The SU vs. UConn Blood Battle, sponsored by the American Red Cross and Student Affairs, officially takes place in April, but participants are encouraged to give blood and pre-register on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at the Goldstein Auditorium from 4-9 p.m.

While participants donate blood, “Disturbing the Peace,” a live sports radio show with Galaxy Corporation, will air from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium, followed by the SU vs. UConn game to be shown on the widescreen at 7 p.m. Students will be able to purchase “One Dollar Tailgate Food” using Supercard, credit cards and cash. Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, pizza and soda will be available; meal plans will not.

There will also be chances to win Dunkin Donut coffee mugs, as well as free snacks for participants. Otto will be on hand along with members of the SU Spirit Program. Omega Psi Phi will add a halftime show.

The SU vs. UConn Blood Battle was initiated by the Connecticut and New York-Penn American Red Cross offices in 2009-2010 in an effort to increase blood donations at college campuses. The SU vs. UConn Battle was patterned after the Ohio State vs. Michigan Blood Battle, which began in 2004.

UConn won the challenge last year, collecting 501 units in April, with an enrollment of 16,998 for a winning ratio of 2.95 percent. SU collected 208 units in April, with an enrollment of 12,491 for a participation ratio of 1.66 percent. To win this year, SU students, faculty and staff need to collect 438 units of blood in April for a participation rate of 3.10 percent.

Each pint of blood can help save three lives. Over that past five years, SU students, faculty and staff have increased their blood donations by 58 percent, from 915 pints collected in 2005-2006, to 42 drives and a total of 1,447 pints donated in 2009-2010. The Sigma Labda Upsilon benefit drive for Sickle Cell Anemia patients saw 36 first-time minority donors. The Winnick Hillel Jewish Student Organization grew from a single drive to three drives annually, while Greek organizations Phi Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Mu, and Sigma Chi sponsor two drives annually. In all, SU blood drives have helped save over 100,000 lives since the partnership began 40 years ago.

By giving blood at the Schine Center during the SU-UConn game Feb. 2, participants will automatically be pre-registered for the five-day mega-drive from April 11-15. Blood donation sites will take place at the Schine Student Center, Goldstein Student Center and Day Hall. Only the pints collected during the April Blood Battle count in the competition.

For more information about the February or April SU vs. UConn Blood Battles, contact Bridget Yule, director of student center and programming services, at 443-9142 or bmyule@syr.edu.