Spears School marketing class project helps save lives, win Bedlam Blood Battle

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Burns Hargis holding the Bedlam Blood Battle trophy. — Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis with the Bedlam Blood Battle trophy.

Spears School of Business students enrolled in the Services Marketing course last fall were given a great opportunity to use their skills. By working closely with the Oklahoma Blood Institute and numerous campus agencies they promoted the Bedlam Blood Battle that resulted in Oklahoma State University’s victory.

Last fall OBI asked the Center for Social and Services Marketing to help promote the Bedlam Blood Battle. This is an annual event that counters the students, faculty and staff of OSU and the University of Oklahoma against each other to see which school can donate the most blood. It occurs in the weeks previous to the Bedlam football game.

The students engaged possible donors in various ways through a marketing campaign that targeted students, student organizations, faculty, staff and the community. In order to create a successful campaign, the students broke up into groups, each targeting a specific demographic.

One group focused on the faculty and created a contest for which college could get the most faculty donors. Another group concentrated on the Greek organizations advertising through chalking at the houses and getting the PanHellenic council to award “points” for donating. A different group targeted people at the Colvin Center, offering bananas and informing them about the blood drive. Also, a group set up a disc jockey at Kerr-Drummond to increase interest and had the OSU Cheer and Pom squads parade through the Student Union promoting it during lunch hours.

The students’ efforts weren’t in vain. The battle resulted in a great success. OSU won with 1,169 pints compared to 1,141 from OU. In recognition, OSU President Burns Hargis was presented with the Bedlam Blood Battle trophy during an announcement at the game.

James Mason, clinical professor of marketing, is proud of the students’ involvement in the successful project.

“I think it illustrates how the Center for Social and Services Marketing works to connect Spears School students with our communities to make learning a truly collaborative process with benefits that go beyond the classroom walls,” Mason said.

For more information about the Bedlam Blood Battle project or the Center for Social and Services Marketing contact James Mason at james.d.mason@okstate.edu.