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Phlebotomist Megan Crum collects a unit of blood donated by freshman Kathryn Smith.

2:10 p.m., Sept. 11, 2003--As the nation marks the second anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, members of the UD community are doing their part by participating in the first blood drive of the fall semester.

Sponsored by Sigma Chi, the blood drive is conducted by staff from the Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore.

“We had a great start, and we had nice little crowd waiting when the doors opened at 10 a.m., Shay Robb, school program and blood drive coordinator, Blood Bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore, said. “Sigma Chi has done a great job recruiting, and we are looking forward to a great day.”

While blood bank staffers conducted interviews and donors began to fill the two rows of beds in the multipurpose room of the Trabant University Center, members of Sigma Chi were preparing to hand out snacks and beverages to those who have donated blood.

“We usually sponsor this event every year,” Jonathan Sandurs, a senor marking major from Holbrook, N.Y., said. “Because it is the anniversary of 9/11, I feel it is my duty to help.”

Sandurs said that he was in his residence hall at UD when the events of September 2001 unfolded.

“A friend called and said a plane had hit one of the World Trade towers,” Sandurs said. “I thought it was no big deal. I went to class, but when I got out of class everybody was going crazy. That’s when I found out what had really happened.”

Nathan Mitchell, a junior international relations major from Middleton, Mass., also remembered hearing the news a bit late on the morning of 9/11.

“I didn’t hear about it right away, and then someone told me that we were being attacked, and that they were flying planes into the World Trade towers and the Pentagon,” Mitchell said. “I remember I was scared like everyone else, and that I wanted to see what was going on.”

Sigma Chi fraternity brothers Nathan Mitchell, AS 2005, (left) and Jonathan Sandurs, BE 2004, staff the canteen, serving snacks and beverages to those who donated blood.

Both Mitchell and Sandurs said they believe that the mood for the second anniversary is somber and respectful, but not as painful as last year’s observances.

“I think today the mood reflects that the country is healing and moving towards being on a normal track again,” Mitchell said.


Mitchell also said that if there ever is a special day for people to come out and give blood, it has to be Sept. 11.

“We want to tell people that blood is needed all year long, and that it’s always a good idea to be a donor,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully, this will get the word out.”

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Duane Perry

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