Sept. 10, 57 students and some faculty circulated through a Red Cross Bloodmobile outside of Hart Hall, donating nearly 60 units of blood over the course of the day.

“In the very end we had 67 people sign up, over 70 showed up, and 57 were able to give,” SGA Vice President Michael Bartlett said. “So as of right now we are far exceeding expectations.”

An unidentified Red Cross Technician also commented that they were seeing “much more of a response” this time than in previous instances.

The SGA hosts four blood drives a year, and the goal in a year is to get 200 people to sign up. Out of the 200, it is assumed, based on previous experiences, that only 120-160 people will actually be able to give because of medical reasons or other liabilities. Therefore, Milligan has made 120-160 donors a year its objective.

Despite the positive response, the large number of donors had adverse effects, according to student supporters.

Junior Jaime Hearn has given blood every year she has attended Milligan, but this year was frustrating and time-consuming.

“Normally the wait would be only a half hour at the most. My appointment was at 1:15 p.m. I didn’t get in before my 2 p.m. class. So I had to come back at 3 p.m. and did not finish giving until 5 p.m.,” Hearn said.

Benjamin Devenney, a junior who gave in his freshmen year as well, said this year’s experience did not differ from previous years except in the fact that the screening was done in the Bloodmobile. This made the experience more time-consuming according to Devenney.

Tim Troutman with the Red Cross Donor Recruitment Office commented that having the screening done in the Blood Mobile is a “privacy issue.”

John Jackson, professor of Bible and humanities who has given blood in previous years, agreed doing the paperwork in the Bloodmobile did feel a bit more private. The students seemed mostly concerned about convenience and time.