Local police and event organizers expect their team effort to successfully maintain security for the 1994 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon this weekend.

University Police Services Supervisor Dwight Smith said about four or five officers will be on duty at all times to keep everyone "safe and sane."

In addition, regular shift officers will patrol the White Building vicinity on a regular basis.

Smith said a combination of police presence and student awareness tend to keep the number of incidents from getting out of control.

"In the general scheme of things, the dance marathon has not been a big problem," Smith said. "People seem to have gotten the word out to their friends."

But police do expect to respond to more alcohol-related and disorderly conduct incidents this weekend than they do on normal weekends, he added.

The marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation, will take place this weekend, Feb. 18 to Feb. 20. The 540 dancers from 85 Greek organizations, 43 University-affiliated student groups and Commonwealth Campuses, will get to their feet at 7 p.m on Friday in White Building.

About 35 student volunteers will aid security efforts at all times during the marathon, Rules and Regulations Chairman Brian Ray said.

"I don't expect any problems," he said. "However, you can never be positive about everything."

Ray said the number of student volunteers will increase to 90 during the final four hours of the marathon -- the time when White Building typically reaches its capacity.

A student auxiliary officer will guard the White Building entrance at all times during the marathon to control crowd flow, University Police Officer Steve Shelow said.

A new problem for University police during this year's marathon may be a lack of nearby parking spaces, Smith said. Because of ongoing construction, the parking lot adjacent to White Building and the Penn State Bookstore on Campus will be un-usable.

Police said car owners will need to find other available lots on campus or pay fines because parking regulations will be enforced strictly throughout the weekend.

"That may mean walking a block or so," Smith said.

The State College Police Department will not need to deploy extra officers this weekend, Lt. Carmine Prestia said.

"That typically doesn't affect us a lot," he said.

Prestia added that the event does bring more people into the area, but crime rates do not rise like they do during University football weekends.