Nearly 120 Donate Blood in Boyleston

Nearly 120 people donated blood yesterday at the Harvard blood drive, and organizers expect a similar number today.

"I thought the needle would be a lot bigger," said first-time donor Andy G. Larson '93 just after the nurse withdrew the needle from his arm, "but it went by quickly."

The average time for the complete process was one hour. Each donor gives one unit of blood, which then can be used by three people.

Although fears of contracting AIDS from giving blood still linger among the public, organizers said the concerns were unfounded.

"There is absolutely no risk of getting AIDS in donating blood," said Monica A. Jaworowicz '91, a co-cordinator for the project. The Red Cross uses new sterile needles that "are immediately disposed of and later incinerated."

The drive continues today in Boylston Hall from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and appointments are not necessary.

Larson said that he will give blood again, adding that "if ever I needed a blood transfer, I hope someone out there would be generous enough to give."

Students Start Forum To Discuss New Europe

Harvard students are forming a new group to promote understanding of the recent events in Eastern Europe and their historical and cultural background.

At an organizational meeting of the Friends of Eastern Europe, held yesterday in Boylston Hall, co-founder Robert M. Siedlecki '91 said that there was a lack of a non-academic forum for the discussion of Eastern Europe at Harvard.

The club plans monthly dinner talks at which East European experts will discuss current events in the region. Members also hope to hold occasional "Slavic dinners," informal events where undergraduates can gather for East European cuisine and conversation on matters of mutual interest.

Siedlecki said that the group would focus mainly on recent events in the region, "in order to get an understanding of the tremendous changes which are going on there."

But he said that it would be impossible to meet this goal without a grasp of the background behind these events.

"In order to understand a current problem in Eastern Europe, like for instance the tension between Hungarians and Romanians in Romania, you have to understand the history," he said.