Friday, Feb. 14, 1997

Marathon safe and secure

By JESSICA PILOK
Collegian Staff Writer

Dancers in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon this weekend have enough worries -- from fatigue to sore feet -- so volunteers such as Tony Lombardo will make sure no one participating has any unnecessary concerns.

Debbie DelGrosso (senior- rehabilitation education) hands a piece of tape to Jon Grammes (senior- biology) as they put together posters displaying the names of dance marathon participants in White Building on Thursday night. The 'Thon committees are making final preparations today for dance marathon. (Collegian Photo / Galen A. Lentz - click for full size image)

The number of security volunteers working this weekend has increased from 175 last year to 250 people this year, said Lombardo, overall rules and regulations chair for dance marathon. University Police Services will also be present, corroborating efforts of the security teams.

The reason for the large increase in security is not necessarily because it is needed, Lombardo said, but because there were more volunteers this year.

"We have never had any major problems at dance marathon and we do not anticipate any this year," he said. "We just have a lot of volunteers who want to do their part for a truly worthy cause."

There are about 25 red-shirted security teams which are overseen by 11 security captains, Lombardo said. The members of the security teams will also be equipped with walkie-talkies for the first time, enabling quick and easy access to University police officers.

There are times during the weekend when the gymnasium may be more crowded than others, Lombardo said. After students go out tonight and tomorrow night, Lombardo expects a larger crowd.

"We will not necessarily have more security during this time," Lombardo said. "We've just asked everyone to have a heightened awareness."

The volunteers in charge of set up will also try to diminish any unnecessary concerns for dancers at the marathon and try to insure a smooth-running event.

Collegian Graphic: Things to bring Thon dancers

Set up of the gymnasium began last night, said Brian Samuels, dance marathon physical plant chairman. About 135 members of the physical plant committee moved the necessary equipment from the HUB Basement to the White Building yesterday.

The members of the physical plant committee do most of the moving and laborious work, Samuels said.

"Setting up for 'Thon is really a joint effort," he said. "Every committee does its part to make sure everything is intact and runs smoothly."

Most of the equipment was moved into the gymnasium yesterday, Samuels said. But the actual setting-up process does not begin until late today.

There is a lot to do in a short period of time, Samuels said. Mats are put down on the floor for the dancers, cubbies are built for the dancers' belongings, the stage is set up, banners are hung along the walls and fencing is set up around the dance floor, he said.

This performance is reversed Sunday night when everything must be taken down, disassembled and returned to the HUB basement by the same volunteers.

Overall, there is a lot of behind-the-scene work which goes into dance marathon. There are many people who want to participate and who like to give their time, Samuels said.

"Our main concern is to keep up the morale of the dancers and to make sure everything goes as planned," he said.