Officials question length of marathon
By Jill Leonard
Collegian Staff Writer

Those who danced in the 28th annual Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon braved aching feet and battles with fatigue for 48 consecutive hours to prove that "love never fails."

However, some university officials question whether or not the two-day affair is safe for students.

Although dancing in Thon probably did not expose students to any long-term health risks, some dancers might have suffered some short-term effects, said Dr. Edward Rosick, a physician for University Health Services.

Among the conditions that some participants are at risk of developing are fatigue, stiff joints and possible sprained ankles, as well as suspended immune systems, which make the body more susceptible to contracting colds, Rosick said.

"It's not particularly healthy (to dance in the marathon)," Rosick said, cautioning that "after dancing for 48 hours, body rhythms will be out of sink, and it might take a few days to catch up."

Penn State President Graham Spanier said that although he acknowledges the role of the dance marathon in supporting the Four Diamonds Fund, he does not believe shortening the event would diminish its importance.

"No light shines brighter on Penn State than Thon," he said.

"I have felt for years that Thon wouldn't be diminished one bit by having the event shortened by a few hours, and I've made this suggestion," Spanier said in an e-mail.

However, some student participants believe that the consequences that dancing in the event has on its participants cannot compare to what cancer-stricken children must endure every day.

"We dance and go through pain for two days, and the children we dance for suffer pain, chemotherapy and treatment for two years or more," said Walt Breuninger, overall public relations chair for Thon.

Breuninger said he feels that shortening the dance marathon might take away from the meaning of the event.

"Forty-eight hours truly is a marathon," Breuninger said. "If it was shorter, it would not live up to its name (as a marathon)."

Thon dancer Amy Lefever (sophomore-advertising) agreed Thon would not be as impressive if it were made shorter.

She argued that the number of couples dancing in the marathon proves that students are not afraid to sacrifice their bodies for 48 hours to raise funds for the children.

"If no one could or wanted to do it, then why would so many couples want to participate?" Lefever said,

She added a few couples had to be turned away from dancing due to room constraints in Rec Hall.

According to the Thon Web site (www.thon.org), the first year that the marathon lasted 48 hours was 1974 in the White Building, the event's second year.

Spanier said if any changes are made to Thon's length, the decision will be that of the event's student organizers.

"In the end, of course, the students involved will have to decide," Spanier said.