Charlene Belew
Student Life Editor
Cameron University’s ROTC held one of their two annual blood drives from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 in Room 209 of Burch Hall.
Students and faculty were invited campus-wide to participate in the charitable event.
Assistant for Cameron’s ROTC program, Diane Crage, said this event has been occurring at Cameron twice a year for five years.
This year, she said that the blood drive was very successful, with 21 whole blood donations and 5 referrals.
Crage said that she encourages all people to donate blood, and if they are unable to, they should try to convince someone to donate in their place.
“If anyone is able to donate blood, please do so,” she said. “It’s very rewarding and not only rewarding, but all over Oklahoma people are in need of blood and there’s so many blessings that come from donating.”
Crage said that out of the 21 donations received, 15 of them came from Cameron ROTC members.
While the number of volunteers who donated was good, Crage said there is always a constant need for blood, and it is hard to keep up with the demand.
“It’s not that people don’t care, it’s that people don’t have time,” she said. “People don’t realize that it could be their family or someone they know that receives the blood, so that’s why I encourage my cadets to donate.”
Crage said that in the future, she hopes advertising will play a bigger part in the blood drive so as to attract more people to help in the cause to raise the blood reserve for Oklahoma. The ROTC will hold its next blood drive of the school year in April.
Upcoming events for ROTC include the commissioning of five cadets into 2nd Lt. ranks. The ceremony for this event will be held on Dec. 14.
For more information on ROTC, contact Diane Crage at 580-581-2340.