University ready for Thon


Friday, Feb. 20, 1998	University ready for Thon By PATRICIA TISAK Collegian Staff Writer Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one. The countdown to Thon is almost over. The 1998 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon begins at 7 p.m. tonight in the White Building and will last for 48 hours.
The 1996 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon filled the White Building with dancers, workers and visitors, as shown on Feb. 17, 1996. The 1998 Thon begins today in the White Building with more than 500 dancers. (Collegian Photo/David S. Spence - click for full size image)	"Dance marathon is more than just the students dancing," said Andrea Gaspardino, director of Greek and Community Life. "It's an experience." About 570 dancers are participating this year and around 1,500 students are on one of 10 Thon committees. All money raised by Thon benefits the Four Diamonds Fund, which gives financial and emotional support to families who have children with cancer. "It's one of those things you can't describe until you've seen it for yourself," Overall Public Relations chairwoman Emily Sharretts said. When students walk in the White Building, they will be directed to the visitor area, Sharretts (senior-advertising and public relations) said. The amount of activity will be overwhelming, she added. "There is a fence around the dancers so as to make their situation as comfortable as possible," she said. "Visitors will be directed to the bleachers, where they can sit and cheer on the dancers and observe the plethora of activity going on." Bands such as bluesuedegroove, Catfish Soup, Eclipse, The Fables, Phyrst Phamly, Green Eggs and Spam, One World Tribe, Sideshow Bob and Velveeta will perform for one hour each during the weekend, said Overall Entertainment chairwoman Jamie Drenocky. "We cannot specify when the bands will be playing," Drenocky said. "It's important that the dancers do not know what time it is during the weekend so we do not mention the times of events at all. No (dancer or committee member) is allowed to enter the building with a watch on."
`48 Hours of Thon`	Airbands are also interesting for students to view, Drenocky said. Airbands are dancing and lip synching routines performed by different student organizations, she said. "Airband presentations are usually three to four minutes long," she said. "We give the different organizations participating a lot of leeway. They pick the songs and their own costumes." Jugglers, clowns and magicians will be there to entertain the Four Diamond Fund families. "On Saturday afternoon, there is a theme hour when families do arts and crafts on the floor and the kids play with the dancers," Overall Reception and Family Relations chairwoman Brooke Wylie said. The family relations committee encourage the families to spend as much time with the dancers as possible, said Wylie (senior-rehabilitation education). "It's the best reminder of why we're doing this for 48 hours," Wylie said.