'Thon preparations underway
Students have less than a week to finish getting ready

By SHARON SARGENT
Collegian Staff Writer

With sunshine streaming through the windows and students intently working behind desks and computer screens, it seems like a usual weekday morning in the special events office on the second floor of the HUB. But with the 1995 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon -- the country's largest student-run philanthropy -- less than a week away, this morning is anything but ordinary.

A closer look and the unusually hectic atmosphere becomes apparent. Inquiring people swarm through the office, carefully dodging stacks of posters and overflowing mailboxes, as the phone rings relentlessly, harboring last minute questions and concerns.

Though planning for the dance marathon this year began as early as last spring, everybody involved with the event continues to work on the finishing touches.

"This week is hectic to say the least -- not really a bad hectic, but a good hectic," said Overall Entertainment Chairman Chris Shaffer.

"This year's marathon will include a 9-by-12 projector screen at the back of the stage, something the marathon hasn't used in three years. Using this screen will cause a lot of last-minute details and changes to be made this week," he said.

Many other preparations will be made in the next couple days as well.

Sometime today, moralers will wash the mats that will cover the floor. Then tomorrow night, dancers and moralers will attend a dancer/morale social in the HUB Ballroom. Thursday night, banners and posters will be hung in White Building, and at 4 p.m. Friday, the Office of Physical Plant will begin to set up the White Building gym.

"Wednesday after the social the moralers will learn the line dance which we'll teach to the dancers sometime Friday night," said morale committee member Allie Menges.

"This dance loosens the dancer's muscles -- it's highly energetic and motivating, and it lifts everyone's spirits 110 percent," she said.

Also this week, Menges (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) said the moralers will be preparing surprise care packages for their dancers.

"Each dancer writes down what they like to eat, so this week I'll be getting together some of my dancers' favorite foods," Menges said.

Overall Public Relations Chairwoman Diane Gebicki said the excitement of everyone involved with the dance marathon is at a high this week.

"The excitement is definitely building. Sunday night we had a mega, six-hour meeting with overall committee people. Now it's all coming together," Gebicki said.

Rick Funk, coordinator of Greek Life, agrees.

"This week people are basically going back through their checklists, seeing what still needs to be done and making back-up plans in case something goes wrong," Funk said.

Cancer patients and their families will begin arriving at area hotels starting Friday morning, said Stuart MacNeil, senior sales manager for the Atherton Hilton, 125 S. Atherton St.

"We donate three rooms and give the rest of the families price breaks," MacNeil said. "We're pretty much all set with the families and their accommodations . . . We will do our best to inform our other customers of dance marathon and encourage them to visit the event."

Despite the long hours, the endless work and the stress involved with preparing for the dance marathon, most people agree that the outcome is worth the effort.

"Oh my God, it's definitely worth it," said Gebicki, who has participated in the marathon for the past four years. Many others hold the same opinion.

And Shaffer, who is also in his fourth year of involvement with the dance marathon, also said the experience is worth it. "You always get so much more out of it than you put in."