Every year hundreds of students dedicate their minds, their hearts and, perhaps most importantly, their feet to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

The spirit of the dance marathon seems even more special because its participants and organizers donate their time and energies, expecting no monetary reward.

Last week the overall chairman of the marathon and a top University administrator said they support giving a stipend to future chairpersons. Because the organizers gain so much experience from their work, some claim they deserve more than just token recognition.

The people behind the scenes for the marathon exert tremendous energy to make the event a success, but rewarding that work with money contradicts the very goals of a philanthropy.

During the 48-hour marathon, dancers endure hallucinations, fallen arches and swollen feet. Morale team members give massages and conduct games to maintain spirit during the difficult hours. Members of the many dance marathon committees balance full credit loads with full-time work schedules to make this event the largest student-run philanthropy in the country.

Last year, all of these people's labor and some 500 pairs of tired feet helped raise more than $400,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund -- an organization that helps the families of children with cancer. No one can gauge whose work makes the marathon most successful. To reward only some supporters is unfair.

Organizers also can choose to earn University credits for their time and contributions. This involves planning out coursework with a faculty member. Like the proposed payments, this idea deviates from the marathon's altruistic nature.

Credit for the organizing the event could be justified if Four Diamonds were an internship opportunity for a business management training program. But the only motivation of past participants in the marathon has been the kids.

The reward student organizers received was a good feeling. And their recognition came in the form of gratitude from the numerous families they helped.

The proposal to pay the marathon's organizers goes against what a philanthropy is all about. College credits or stipends would only obscure the sweat, fatigue and friendships that will occupy White Building later this month.