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[ Monday, Feb. 21, 2000 ]
Operations committee provides smooth Rec Hall maintenance
By Katie Eggert
Collegian Staff Writer
More than 300 students on the operations committee (OPP) teams gathered Thursday night to begin setting the stage for the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon2000.
Some students flexed their muscles to carry the equipment to Rec Hall, while others gathered on hands and knees to place new protective mats on the Rec Hall floor.
PHOTO: Tobin Lehman/Collegian
Amanda Townsend (sophomore-French), Laura Fast (freshman-chemical engineering), and Andrea Statz (freshman-English) help to clean up Rec Hall after Thon yesterday.
The OPP committees, all under the direction of OPP overall chair Jen Doebler, were responsible for setting up the dance area, maintaining the general area during the 48-hour event and removing the materials at the end of the event.
"We (OPP) are a vital role to the success of Thon. We hold a vital role in everyone else's success," Doebler (senior-secondary education) said. She added the collaborative effort between OPP and other committees are key to the event's success.
The OPP students often work with other committees. OPP places extra trash cans in Rec Hall, empties the trash during the weekend, picks up trash off of the dance floor, cleans bathrooms and moves tables for dancers to use in addition to many other tasks that help the weekend run smoothly.
Thon overall chair Brian Sperling was pleased Thursday night with the progress that had been made since the event was moved from White Building to Rec Hall last year.
He added he has worked closely with Doebler to ensure this year's success.
"We had to adjust some things, last year was the first time here (Rec Hall). The great thing about a new building is that we have the opportunity to make the event run efficiently," Sperling (senior-science) said.
There were 14 OPP captains with different groups working shifts throughout the weekend. Each student worked for about 20 total hours during various shifts.
Students had many different reasons for choosing to get involved with Thon through an OPP team.
"I wanted to be involved. I picked OPP because I'm in the Blue Band and a lot of the people in Blue Band are also on OPP, and they wanted people to be involved," said Brandi Derstine (junior-education), who was a first-time participant in Thon this year.
The takedown of Thon is a crucial activity for OPP. Last night, many students remained at Rec Hall after Thon ended to return the building to its original state.
"All the things we bring in to make Thon have to go (during takedown). The proper takedown didn't happen last year and that jeopardized our use of this venue (Rec Hall)," said Doebler, adding a thorough cleanup is the most essential part of taking down Thon.
Some students feel joining a committee is a great way to be part of Thon. To Marisa Kichline (sophomore-education), the OPP committee experience was a great way to involve herself in the cause.
"It's so giving. It's a wonderful opportunity," Kichline said.
