Dance Marathon means more to me than any other experience that I have had at Penn State. I was kind of taken aback by the story by Sharon Studevant in The Daily Collegian on Jan. 24 and the letter that followed by Susan Suder and Melissa Sladicka (Jan. 26).

As public relations chair for last year's Dance Marathon, I viewed firsthand the work that the whole student body puts into it. Although I agree with the theme of the letter, I disagree with the notion that the motivation behind a stipend is the "What's in it for me" idea.

The most common quote heard when you question the people that are involved with the Dance Marathon is that they commit all this time for the kids for the feeling that they get before, during and after the marathon.

When you take a position with Dance Marathon, the committee asks one thing of you -- and that is total commitment. "Committee starts with commit," we say.

Without commitment, the Marathon could not be as successful as it is. That kind of commitment usually means going to class and nothing else. No part-time job to help you get by at Penn State. No time to do anything but study, eat, sleep and breathe Dance Marathon.

Students who are unable to participate in the Dance Marathon due to financial needs will have a chance to hold a position if there is a stipend. What is so bad about that?

If a stipend would be equal to that of half tuition, (the IFC, Panhellenic and USG presidents get full in-state tuition), this would equal about $60 per week, or less than $1.60 an hour. If the students were really in it for themselves, they would go elsewhere.

There is no amount of money that could buy the feeling that you get when one of the Four Diamonds kids sprays water in your face at 8 a.m. Sunday, or even that of a tearful thank you from their parents.

It is a shame that the Collegian chose to focus on this issue rather than the upcoming events. The talk about the Dance Marathon chair receiving a stipend is not new by any means.

It has been a topic of discussion for years. Was it really newsworthy? Newsworthy enough for the front page?

There are so many good things that are happening with the Dance Marathon. Let's all help Chris Bannon and the overall committee make this the best marathon ever.

As the letter from Ms. Suder and Ms. Sladicka put it so well, let's "DO IT FOR THE KIDS!"