Debating whether to have a slice of Papa John's or Domino's Pizza, Mike Conigliaro (junior-computer engineering), sat and rested after donating blood.

He waited in line yesterday for almost five hours, skipping all his classes.

Touched by Tuesday's violent attacks and ascending death toll, many students are giving their time, energy and blood for a cause they deem inspirational.

"It was worth it. It feels more significant now given what had just happened," Conigliaro said.

Yesterday was Conigliaro's seventh time donating blood. For some, it was their first.

"I'm excited," said Abbey Drewes (freshman-premedicine).

"I worked at a blood drive before, but I wasn't old enough to donate then."

Tuesday's tragic events brought hundreds of students and faculty together for the cause.

At the Wagner Building yesterday, hundreds of people waited for hours, anxious to donate blood.

Yesterday afternoon, a line about 50 feet long stretched outside the building, wrapped down a stairwell and into the basement warehouse, where the American Red Cross ran the operation.

Throughout the line, people were discussing their opinions about world war, Afghanistan and New York. Some were reading books, some were praying, some were still crying.

Others were recalling graphic television images of those in need of their blood.

An even bigger line crowded the HUB-Robeson Center on Tuesday. Some students waited for seven hours, eager to give blood. Mike Young, publicity chair of the Penn State Red Cross, said a drive like Tuesday's usually collects 120 pints of usable blood.

But they amassed 230 pints. Originally scheduled to close at 5 p.m., volunteers stayed until 11 p.m., catching up after a busy day collecting donations.

The same situation arose yesterday at Wagner Building.

The original goal of 140 pints was bumped up to 240. Unable to take all donors, the Red Cross was forced to turn away potential donors because of staff limitations.

"It's amazing that people have this much support and generosity," said Wendi Keeler, Red Cross field representative.

"I hate to turn donors away."

About 320 people tried to give blood yesterday and 224 people, 83 of whom were first-time donors, were successful donors, Keeler said.

For every person who donates blood, three to four people are saved, said Pantea Farhi, blood drive coordinator of the student Red Cross.

This information is helpful in persuading first-time donors to give blood again, she added.

"It's really great how people are donating now. I'm very impressed with human nature," Farhi said.

"I want to thank everyone for doing this. As much evil that's going on at this time, it has created this beautiful event."

The Red Cross plans to hold future blood drives both this week and next.

Today, they will hold an emergency drive at the White Building.

Also, on Monday and Wednesday, the blood drive will be back in the HUB-Robeson Center. Times for all events will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Collegian Staff Writer Stef Hamilton contibuted to this report.