SGA postpones Red Cord event

The Student Government Association announced at its Monday meeting that the launch event for the Red Cord program has been postponed.

Originally scheduled for today, the event to unveil and introduce the partnership between South Texas Blood and Tissue Center and this college was moved to January.

The program will reward students who donate or volunteer by allowing them to wear a red cord at commencement.

Janice Carpio, director of corporate communications for South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, said the event was delayed to strengthen the coordination with students, faculty and volunteer coordinators.

“We want to make it bigger and better,” Carpio said.

For example, she said they are determining how faculty members could participate in the Red Cord program.

“We love this idea. Now how can we make it work,” she said.

Despite the program’s delay, President Jacob Wong said he is focused on the need to raise awareness of blood donations.

“It is disappointing, but I do believe it is important. It saves lives,” Wong said.

SGA and South Texas Blood and Tissue are scheduled to meet again in December to work out details.

This college is the first college in south Texas to offer the Red Cord program.

Wong pioneered the partnership between this college and South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in an effort to promote blood donations and volunteerism.

The Red Cord Elite program is similar to The Red Cord Honor program that South Texas Blood and Tissue Center currently sponsors in high schools.

Students who donate blood at least 10 times, volunteer 10 hours or have a combination of 10 donations and volunteer hours will be able to wear a cord during graduation as a symbol of their donations.

“It is such a great honor to have a cord when you graduate,” Wideman said.

All previous donations by students will count toward the program.

In other news, SGA along with Emma Mendiola, dean of student affairs, is co-sponsoring an open forum with Chancellor Bruce Leslie. No date was set.

Similar to Pizza with the President, the event will allow the public to ask Leslie questions.

In other news, SGA is partnering with the office of student life and the Catholic Student Association to hold a campuswide food drive on Nov. 12-13.

SGA is working out an incentive program for students who donate nonperishable items.

Among the incentives, students could receive a voucher worth 10 percent off bookstore items, excluding food and textbooks.