Yesterday was Tara McCafferty's 20th birthday. A proud Phi Sigma Sigma sister, not only is the College sophomore the exuberant promotions co-director of campus radio station WQHS -- a position she shares with fellow Phi Sig sister and roommate Maria Leonetti -- but she is also an aspiring artist.
"She's a very good friend and ... just a lot of fun to be around," says Leonetti, also a College sophomore.
However, this semester McCafferty has taken a leave of absence as she fights an ongoing battle for survival.
McCafferty suffers from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria -- a rare blood disease commonly referred to as PNH.
In her honor, McCafferty's Phi Sig sisters at Drexel's Beta Rho and Penn's Nu chapters organized a blood drive at Drexel University yesterday, aiming to collect a minimum of 60 pints in a concerted effort to save McCafferty and others in need of blood transfusions.
"We had a great turnout," says Phi Sig Philanthropy Chairwoman of the Beta Rho chapter Ashley Bryan, noting that approximately 60 of the 85 participants were able to donate blood.
"People such as myself weren't able to donate because my iron wasn't high enough," the Drexel junior continues.
Nonetheless, Bryan believes that Phi Sig's 60-pint goal was attained.
All O-positive blood collected will be donated directly to McCafferty, while blood of other types will be donated to the Red Cross.
Monetary donations are also being sought to help pay for a future bone marrow transplant for McCafferty -- an operation costing up to $400,000 that would be therapeutic for her condition, according to Leonetti.
PNH -- a disease in which red blood cells are intermittently destroyed in circulation -- can cause severe anemia in affected patients, who sometimes need blood transfusions to correct the condition, according to Penn Department of Medicine Chairman Andrew Schafer.
Seth Berkowitz and Jared Barnett have been best buddies ever since freshman year. Little did these pals know that their friendship would blossom into the thriving and divinely tasty Insomnia Cookies.
What first drew you guys to the cookie industry?
Scarlet
Cult Classic
Reformed metallic hardcore outfit Scarlet returns to the fray with Cult Classic, the group's newest tribute to gore, debauchery and terror.
Avril 50 is more than just a home to 3,000 or so periodicals, coffee, tea and tobacco products. For the many loyal customers, it is an escape from a harsh reality.
Street had the pleasure of chatting with 6'7", 190 pounds, Irish Catholic, sophomore campus muckraker Paul Mattus, who is currently in training for the new Penn Emergency Medical Services program.
Philly's restaurant impresario has done it again. For his ninth venture, Stephen Starr has taken the skeleton of the failed tapas bar Trust and turned it into a carnival of kitsch and cool rivaled only by his other fabulously popular "restaubars," Continental, Buddakan et al.
How much do you know about the Penn Glee Club? Street had the pleasure of talking with BMOC Penn Glee Club President Alex Feldman, a senior in the College, and is pleased to report that the arising revelations were astounding.
Despite its age (2000+ years) and length (not airport reading), the Bible still has some use beyond "doorstop" and "guilt trip."
For a start, without the Holy Book Jehovah's Witnesses would have to get real jobs and televangelists would be stuck selling cellulite cream on QVC.