Need cash? Sell plasma
By Andrew Hanelly
Daily Pennsylvanian (U. Pennsylvania)
07/28/2003

(U-WIRE) PHILADELPHIA — As State College, Pa., and the rest of the nation share some of the highest unemployment figures in recent history — 3.2 percent as of May — cash on hand has been an often sought after but rarely reached asset, especially for college students.

This summer, many students have returned for classes and many more continue to reside in the area, competing for a hotel-shampoo-sized number of summer and part-time jobs. Needless to say, there will be many applications filled out, followed by many days waiting by the phone for a call from an employer who won't dial. But this hurdle hasn't stopped the race.

Aside from illegal panhandling and prostitution, unconventional forms of personal fund-raising are few and far between. One such company to offer a break from the monetary drought is BioLife Plasma Services, 321 W. Beaver Ave.

But along with this service of paying plasma donors for their willingness to accept a needle come a plethora of questions.

For some, the answer is simple. For Mike Farley (senior-business) the answer involves some reluctance, but the cash brings him back.

"I'm not saying it's good for you; you can get dehydrated easily, but that just means you have to drink. Water, that is," he said.

The dehydration occurs because plasma is made mostly of water and proteins. Plasma also serves as a circulation aid while delivering vitamins, minerals and proteins to different parts of the body, according to the BioLife Web site.

Farley admits though that sometimes the extra cash helps to cover up holes in the social budget.

"It's great for beer money," he said.

It's true that donors have the ability to make up to $50 a week, depending on their relationship with needles and also their health.

Some people have their doubts.

Alex Noerr (senior-computer science) certainly has no desire to earn the quick cash at the expense of his arm.

"It's like going to a methanol clinic or something — people go there and get money so they can get wasted that weekend," Noerr said.

Noerr also questions the motive someone would have for wanting his plasma.

"What do they do with all the shitloads of plasma they get from people?" he said.

According to their Web site, BioLife targets a college audience, an audience in dire need of disposable income, because plasma can only be obtained from humans.

Plasma cannot be manmade. Therefore, the donations are crucial to the manufacturing of products that treat hemophilia, tetanus, rabies and measles, among other atrocious attacks on the immune system.

The decision to trade plasma for dollar bills is a fork in the road that many reach.

The necessity for money brings only certain people willing to take the road less traveled to help themselves to cash and help others with donations. For Jayne Barrickman (freshman- division of undergraduate studies) the correct path is obvious.

"I'd do it in a second for money. My dad, like, got through college giving plasma," she said.

Copyright ©2003 Daily Pennsylvanian via UWire

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