The 12th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge has reached its halfway point, and Penn State is trailing by just under 200 pints of blood.

"Penn State is a come-from-behind team, and it takes a while to get the word about the challenge out. Now it is a matter of whether we will be able to come from behind enough," said Wendi Keeler, Student Red Cross Club adviser.

There are eight drives scheduled in the next week and a half, the three largest of which will be in the HUB-Robeson Center during the last two days of competition.

Keeler said Penn State usually catches up in the end, relying heavily on the last few blood drives to help the university make up for its deficit.

Blood drive coordinator Toni Gibson stressed the importance of meeting the drive goals to stay close to Michigan State's amount.

"We cater the goals of the drives to their specific locations," Gibson said. "We expect more from the drives in East Halls than in North simply because there are more people living there. Meeting our goals for every drive will help us to make a comeback."

Penn State has been able to reach its collection goals for all but two days during this year's competition. When goals are not met, it is usually due to the amount of deferrals at each of the drives on campus, Keeler said.

Deferrals occur when students do not meet certain criteria to give blood, such as a weight limit or iron deficiency. The rate is more pronounced on college campuses due to poor eating habits, so this evens the playing field between the universities, Keeler said. However, she said Penn State has been working against itself this year with such a high amount of deferrals.

"Over 40 people were deferred out of 120 appointments on Friday and Monday," Keeler said. "The challenge is getting people in the door."

Samantha Shal, the East Halls Residence Association's blood drive chairwoman, said recruiting has been difficult, and students seem disinterested. However, Shal (freshman-photography) said the environment has been upbeat and that donors have been positive.

"All of the drives have been running smoothly, with the same amount of efficiency as Michigan State," Jenn Wilson, Red Cross club education coordinator, said.

Gibson said the point of the challenge is to increase blood supply before the holidays. She said it is important for donors to make an appointment if they're eligible.

"One donation can save up to three lives," Red Cross Club President Rami Horani said. "Students don't have money to give, but we can do something. That something is donating blood. At this point, it all comes down to saving lives."