Dance Marathon team visits 'Late Night' set

The overall chairmen and chairwomen of the 1998 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon Committee went to New York yesterday to spend a late night with David Letterman.

A staff member of the "Late Show with David Letterman" contacted the committee and invited them to the show, said Greg Welsch, a captain of the dance marathon marketing committee.

The individual committees decided to send their overall chairmen and chairwomen, he said.

"In an attempt to get on TV, they will be holding up Thon signs, wearing Thon T-shirts and doing things to make sure Thon is getting on TV," said Welsch, (junior-marketing). "To continue to spread the word about dance marathon, we try to get national coverage. Last year, we were on 'Good Morning America' and 'CBS This Morning.' "

Stephen Rupprecht, assistant director of Greek and Community Life, said dance marathon deserves national recognition.

"It's something people across the country will be interested in," Rupprecht said. "David Letterman's audience probably has a large college following and it would be a great exposure not only for Penn State but for fraternities and sororities at Penn State."

More and more money is being raised each year for dance marathon, Rupprecht added.

"The students are going farther and farther from State College to raise money for dance marathon and this could lead to more sponsorships and a heightened interest out of the State College area," Rupprecht said.

The overall chairmen and chairwomen brought a promotional packet with them to give to Letterman, said Luis Muñoz (graduate-nondegree), a captain of the communications committee. Included in the promotional packet are two Thon T-shirts, a Thon mug and Thon key chains.