Wittenberg students turned out en masse for a good cause.

Springfield, Ohio — The Wittenberg University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Student Senate organized a successful blood drive on Jan. 30, collecting 79 pints of donations to win the first-ever "Blood Battle" competition with North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) arch-rival Wooster.

The results were announced a few moments before tip-off of the Feb. 14 men's basketball game against Wooster in Wittenberg's Pam Evans Smith Arena. After it was revealed that Wittenberg was victorious by a count of 79-60, Wooster's director of athletics, Keith Beckett, donned a Wittenberg hat for the first half of the game.

"The turnout for the blood drive was great," said Wittenberg SAAC Vice President Erin Slattery, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. "After the blood drive was over, I was sure that we had won, but I was surprised to find out that we won by such a big margin.

"It's great to see that we can use the historic rivalry between Wittenberg and Wooster men's basketball to do something good for the community. I'm glad we were able to get this project going this year, and we have already committed to a second round during the 2009-2010 basketball season."

SAAC is an organization that represents and advocates the interests of Wittenberg student-athletes to the rest of the university community. Through bi-weekly meetings, student-athletes are able to network and organize events, including National Girls and Women in Sport Day on Feb. 7, Take a Kid to the Game Day on Feb. 14 and a holiday service project in December in which student-athletes donated money to supply toys for a local family.

Student Senate is a student organization comprised of elected representatives from various campus constituencies. The group includes an executive committee (elected at-large among the entire student body), as well as class presidents, and senators representing large groups, including Greek and non-Greek organizations, student-athletes, international students, Concerned Black Students, residence life and others. The group serves as the campus' student government, and actively supports Wittenberg as the liaison for students to the university administration.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erik Larkin '09

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Related Links: Wittenberg Student-Athlete Advisory Committee