Wednesday October 17, 2001

There are only three reasons to let someone drain your body of a pint of blood. Those elusive reasons have presented themselves this week on the UA campus: free cookies, a chance to save someone's life and an opportunity to kick ASU's ass.

Come gather round, children, wherever you roam; the 15th annual UA vs. ASU blood drive is on, and this time it's serious. It's serious because now more than ever our nation needs to stockpile the crimson, life-sustaining fluid in light of the recent terrorist attacks on our country. This blood drive is different because the threat of further attacks is very real, and it is our duty as hale and hearty young people to give what we can to save lives - and right now, it is our blood we should give.

This particular blood drive is also more serious than past years because our dignity is on the line. The Arizona Daily Wildcat hates to remind the students of this university that we lost last year's blood drive to that devilishly dismal university to the north. Come on people, your body will make more blood in a matter of days, but your dignity may suffer indefinitely.

The blood drive is running through the week. Every day you can give blood from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Bear Down Gym. Today, you can also give blood at Yavapai Residence Hall from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Gamma Phi Beta sorority house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Facilities Management from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the College of Law from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year's blood drive chair is UA head coach John Mackovic. He said, "The recent events ought to be the motivation factor to participate at both schools because we can see the tangible results of a friendly competition." While his words are pleasantly accurate concerning the need for blood in a time when Americans are more at risk than usual, we at the Arizona Daily would prefer that John Mackovic put as much passion into the blood drive as he does on the football field.

Frankly, we want blood.

We don't expect coach Mackovic to refer to the UA vs. ASU football over Thanksgiving weekend as "friendly," and in no way can this competition be likened to a croquet match. This is about blood, dignity, life and death.