Ouachita Stories

Students at Ouachita Baptist University have the opportunity to help save lives while also representing their school in the second annual Battle of the Ravine Blood Drive Oct. 13 and 14.

The American Red Cross will be on campus from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Evans Student Center Banquet Rooms. Everyone who signs up to donate will receive a complimentary, limited edition Battle of the Ravine t-shirt. Donors are asked to bring a form of photo ID or their Red Cross donor card.

While 97 percent of people who live to the age of 72 will need blood or a blood component, only 3 percent of the population donates. Randy Stribling, donor recruiter for the American Red Cross said, “OBU has been an absolutely fabulous university to help the American Red Cross.” Students have taken the challenge head on and donated.

Events during the Battle of the Ravine are always eagerly anticipated and the newly added blood drive competition is no different. According to Stribling, “Last year OBU defeated Henderson by 2 donors.” A large turnout as anticipated by the Red Cross could turn the tables this year or create an even larger margin of victory for OBU.

“Our hopes are to set a new record each year,” Stribling said. Last year, the two universities combined for a total of 444 donations. This year, Red Cross officials have set a goal of 550 units of blood between the universities. The school that gives the most blood will enjoy bragging rights for the year as well as the trophy currently housed in a display in Evans Student Center.

“The American Red Cross hopes the competition enlightens the staff and students on the need and reason to donate blood,” Stribling said. “One day the need may come to them or their family.”

For more information about the blood drive, please contact Randy Stribling at [email protected] or (501) 951-0454.

By Lori Hilburn