2010
News
3
Fall blood drive exceeds donation expectations
:X
£V
Imagine hundreds of
students, teachers and
community members lined
up, bleeding into bags.
What is this, some kind of
crazy science experiment?
The victims of a vampire
students, teachers and
parents donated 118 units
of blood. On the day of the
blood drive about 20 Red
Cross nurses were present
to draw the blood.
"I'm donating because
it saves up to three
lives every time and my
said.
Since the 1980's WLHS
has been saving lives
through blood drives. Last
March, the school broke the
record of students donating
blood with 142 units. That
amounted to save 246 lives.
One donation helps to save
Students must be at least
16-years-old with parent
permission to donate
blood in Oregon. After
registration comes the
actual donation. This part
t
^
is positive, the donor is
notified and the blood is
destroyed. The viable blood
is then stored, labeled
and sorted by type. The
blood can then shipped to
hospitals across the country
to help save lives.
"Try everything once in
life to get the experience.
You don't have to do it
again if you don't like it,
but
units of blood collected are
there
Photo by Rachel Woolley
Tamara Peck, senior, has her blood drawn during the Red Cross Blood Drive held on Oct. 27. Over 150
people donated 118 units of blood, which could save up to 354 lives. Students like Peck were offered
blankets to ease their nerves or keep them warm while donating the blood.
cult? No, it's the West Linn
High 2010 Blood Drive.
Held
on Oct.
hand was writing my
name to register before
up to three lives.
Before donating, each
individual
must go
takes about eight to ten
minutes. The donation is
then immediately given a
number and scanned into
the computer so that it can
be tracked.
"Knowing that a pint
of blood saves up to three
lives made me want to
donate," Kaitlin Andrus,
junior, said.
Next is the separation
process. The blood
is processed into red
blood cells, platelets
and plasma. The
blood components are
separated
because a
■ .
person might
not always
need every part of the
blood. For instance, cancer
patients may just need
through
platelets and plasma. This
8:45
a.m.
to 1:45
p.m.
in the
main
re g istra tio n ,
by spinning th em
through a centrifuge. Then
the blood is tested and the
blood type is determined.
Finally, there is a quality
assurance test where
the blood is tested for
disease. If the disease test
students, teachers and parents donated
gym /
150 people including
I even thought about it,"
Savannah Ellingson, senior,
and a brief
physical
including
an iron test is completed.
354
ives saved
2.7 fro m
where a
health
other
things you can do help
your community and
the local Red Cross,"
Nate Warren, Red Cross
spokesperson, said.
The next blood drive will
be on March 30. Some of
the students who donated
on Oct. 27 plan to donate
at the next blood drive
done
as well.
Students
who
didn't donate in the fall
blood drive can donate
in th e sp rin g as lo n g as
th e y m e e t the d o n atio n
requirements.
"We are really looking
to exceed last spring's
donation of 142 units,"
Weaver said. "Sign up
today in preparation for the
March 30 blood drive!"
West Linn graduate, 20, runs creative campaign for city council
The voting age in the
United States is 18 years,
an age which allows for
a broadened sense of
opportunity and growth,
but for one West Linn
High School alum, now
a student at Clackamas
Community College, voting
isn't enough. Kamon Bryck,
20, is looking beyond
supporting others for office
and ran a campaign of his
own for West Linn City
Council.
Bryck ran against his
father, Kevin Bryck, among
other competitors Jody
Carson, Gail Holmes and
Mike Jones.
"We are not working
with each other, but at
the same time we are not
working against each other;
hopefully at least one of us
wins," Bryck said. Bryck
and his father, Kevin, ran as
competitors, and while he
acknowledged his father's
willingness to help, his
drive towards the council
remained an independent
effort to connect with his
fellow citizens.
"I thought about
how the city had been
very dishonest with the
people, and I decided to
run," Bryck said. Bryck
drew his inspiration
from a conversation at a
family reunion in South
Dakota. He realized that
he hadn't extended his
community involvement.
At that moment, he knew
that he wanted to make
a difference, whether
that was running for
city council or serving
his community through
volunteer work.
"I don't plan any of my
volunteer work, but when
something comes up I will
consider it as an option,"
Bryck said.
Bryck has adopted
his own beliefs which
he believes stem from
his desire to represent
youth, his work alongside
SOLV (Stop Oregon
Litter and Vandalism) a
group working towards
environmental protection,
and his involvement
with the Robinwood
Neighborhood Association.
"My knowledge can
be applied to issues
with failing water lines
and reservoirs in West
Linn," Bryck said. Bryck's
strong connection to the
environment is something
he focused on in his
campaign. He plans to
major in water and
environmental technology,
which directed his
attention toward issues
including the water bill
on the ballot, which he
advocated for through his
campaign.
"I liked what he had
to say about preserving
natural areas of West Linn,'
Lynn Pass, art teacher, said
Pass, in addition to
supporting Bryck's
representation
of youth, values
Kamon's
attention to
environmental
concerns.
"I decided not to make
any yard signs because
they are made of plastic
and are horrible for the
environment. I also have
done almost no driving for
my campaign, making most
trips by walking," Bryck
said.
He centered his
campaign attention on the
environment through his
% ' • j
campaigning, and more
importantly, he hoped to
close the rift between the
councilors and the citizens.
"We need to examine
what the people want and
put that on our agenda
instead of assuming what
the people want. Council
members change our lives
more than any other office
holders," Bryck said. With
unconventional tactics, his
campaign was behind the
others in terms of finance,
but he believed he held
essential skills with the
potential to revitalize the
council.
The recent election
results placed competitors
Mike Jones and Jody
Carson on the council.
Although Bryck did not
end up with a seat on the
council, his campaign
demonstrated how the
young desire to have a
voice in the community.
"I am running today so
that people will still love
West Linn in the future,"
Bryck said.