The common themes of fraternities, sororities, drinking, and tailgating were only some characteristics of Marshall University students and Huntington members in the 1980s. These individuals also participated in blood drives and fundraisers. This involvement shows the significance of community service at Marshall University during the 1980s, but the use of incentives drove this participation.
Blood Drive Competition
In 1985, Marshall University hosted a blood drive competition with WVU to compete in getting more donors from each college. To get more college students and citizens of Huntington involved, incentives were added. For donating blood, Marshall would accept that as payment for one MU parking citation as seen in the image, "Out for Blood", taken from the Marshall University 1985-1986 yearbook (“Out” 121). With that bribe, more people were willing to participate. The incentives helped Marshall beat WVU and earn a plaque showing of their service to the community.
Cancer Arrest Day
In early November 1985, Marshall took part in a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. On this day, police officers “arrested” the MU president, Dale F. Nitzschke, and other prominent citizens of Huntington. To get these individuals out of jail, students and members of the community had to bail them out. The money collected was the donation to the organization. They motivated individuals to participate by making them appear to be bailing people out of jail. Arresting these people had nothing to do with cancer, but it gave them a reason to donate.
What This Shows of Marshall
These two examples show the usage of incentives and how effective they were in getting individuals from Marshall University more involved in community service throughout this decade. Students from the college and members of the Huntington community had to be bribed to participate in these activities. Though Marshall did appear to have a large amount of people participating, these individuals might not have been involved for the right reasons. Instead of wanting to help, individuals were now participating for the incentives provided.
Outside Marshall
This aspect of incentives influencing involvement can be seen in other studies. In the article, “The Use of Incentives to Increase Blood Donations”, Joseph Ferrari and his colleagues concluded in an experiment for college blood drives that the “incentive program was effective in motivating the college undergraduates to donate blood” (Ferrari, et al 792). Without motivation, typical people are not likely to participate in a donation or similar function.
Works Cited
Down in the Valley, 1985. Photograph. The Chief Justice, Marshall University, Huntington, pp. 2.
Ferrari, Joseph R., Barone, Russell C., Jason, Leonard A., Rose, Thomas. "The Use of Incentives to Increase Blood Donations." Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 125, no. 6, Dec. 1985, pp. 791-793.
Free Bruster’s Ice Cream, 2017. Photograph. MEDIC Regional Blood Center, MEDIC Regional Blood Center, medicblood.org/2017/06/pint-for-pint/.
Giving Blood Saves Lives, 2017. Photograph. Club Julian 24 Hour Fitness, Club Julian 24 Hour Fitness, www.clubjulian.com/connection/CJNews_March2017_BloodDrive.html.
Out for Blood, 1985. Photograph. The Chief Justice, Marshall University, Huntington, pp. 121.
Outlaw for a Good Cause, 1985. Photograph. The Chief Justice, Marshall University, Huntington, pp. 121.