Blood May Reach Boiling Point Today

Harvard is out for blood.

Students and other Harvard will gather in Memorial Hall today for the last leg of the year-long blood competition between Harvard and Yale.

Filling their first pint of the bottle last November, Harvard students, faculty and other staff currently hold a 129 unit lead over their New Haven rival Harvard has donated about 1229 pints this year.

Although Yale trails the Crimson now, its past efforts may not be in vain.

"When Yale finds out. I have a feeling they're going to go like gangbusters to catch up," said Melissa L. Croteau, spokesperson for the Northeast chapter of the American Red Cross Blood services.

Eligible donors must be at least 18-year old or if they are 17, obtain a written consent from parents or guardians Bloods givers must also weigh at least 110 pounds and never have had hepatitis.

The 45-minute donating process includes a 15-minute test and snack (granola, cookies and juice) period afterwards. The actual blood-giving lasts only ten minutes.

Croteau urged students to help the drive because 25 percent of the blood Northeast Blood Services collects is donated by high school and college students.