We are Penn State ---or are we? We have over 40,000 students on this campus, and for some reason we have trouble getting 2,000 donors for the PSU/MSU blood challenge. Why? Are you afraid of needles? Are you afraid of blood? Or do you just think that with 40,000 students on this campus, someone else will do it?

Guess what: No one else will. As I write this, Michigan is pulling ahead of Penn State with a difference of 300 units of blood. But this goes beyond any challenge or competition we have. One out of every 10 hospital patients requires a blood transfusion and every two seconds someone in this country needs blood. The only way these patients can get blood is from you.

So put your fears and assumptions behind you. Saving someone's life is worth an hour of yours. This isn't about a competition anymore -- this is about saving lives. You've seen all the blood drive thermometers on campus -- turn up the heat Penn State!