Local artist creates logo for marathon

By Dana Irwin
Collegian Staff Writer

After the lights in Rec Hall have gone down and the last dancer has gone to bed, one lasting image of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon will remain — the Thon 2000 "Love Never Fails" logo.

"Dance marathon means love to so many people," said overall public relations chair for Thon Walt Breuninger, adding it is a challenge every year to find a logo to best capture the year's selected theme.

After the overall chairs decide on a theme, they present the idea to a senior graphic design class.

Everyone in the class designs a logo to match the theme that they then present to the overall chairs, Breuninger said. It is then the daunting task of the chairs to pick the one they feel best represents the meaning of Thon.

While the decision concerning the logo often requires a lot of discussion, this year's selection process was simple.

There was really no debate, Breuninger said, adding when the chairs saw the design by Emily Mahon (senior-graphic design and Spanish), they almost unanimously decided upon it.

"Everyone just loved it," he said.

Mahon's artwork, which depicts an image of a large and small foot forming a heart, now decorates the countless posters, signs and T-shirts publicizing the weekend's event.

"It's really exciting," Mahon said. It was not until recently that she realized her artwork would be seen and worn by so many, she said.

While Thon has a unique meaning to each individual involved, Mahon hopes

her image will express her feelings about this year's theme.

"I just wanted to show the relationship between parent and child (representing the large and small feet) — the love between them," she said.

"Love will never fail them."

This year's theme and logo also are finding special places in the hearts of many students.

"It gives a really strong message. I can't put it into words," Meredith Fass (freshman-psychology) said.

Rec Hall overflowed with those wanting to contribute their time and money to the children of The Four Diamonds Fund. Some said they hope this year's message will be a call to action for more students to join the fight against cancer.

"It (the theme) offers a lot of inspiration," Jenn Nemchek (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "Everyone should get involved."