Dancers in this weekend's dance marathon will have an easier time missing Mass on Sunday and classes on Monday than in years past, thanks to declarations made by two on-campus organizations.

The Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon chair and the Penn State Catholic Community said that while they addressed students' concerns individually in past years, they decided to make a statement for all dancers this year.

Jayme Rubright, overall chair for Thon, wrote a letter for each dancer to give to their professors explaining Thon and why the student might not attend class on Monday.

The letter says, "I intend not to make excuses for absences, but rather to make you aware of (the student's) admirable efforts for dance marathon."

Rubright pointed out that participation in Thon is not a university-excused absence and said, " I wanted to make it easier for the dancers to do a good thing."

Vanessa Vlahakis (senior-marketing), who is dancing for Pi Beta Phi sorority, said, "Luckily, I don't have classes on Monday, but if I did, I wouldn't go."

Dancer Katie Eberly (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management), who will represent the West Halls Residence Association, said she will not attend her 8 a.m. class on Monday. She said she thinks her professor will understand, although she has not shown him Rubright's letter.

"I think it is a given that people aren't going to go to early classes on Monday," she said.

Eberly opted to take an exam tomorrow rather than next Tuesday.

"My professor said most people are incoherent for the entire week," she said.

The letters are only for dancers because captains and moralers get breaks, said Thon Communications Captain Amy Deatrich. She said she was a moraler last year and attended all of her classes as usual.

"It is a huge physical stress, but it's not necessary to skip classes if you're dedicated to your studies," Deatrich said.

The Penn State Catholic Community made its own statement for Catholic students concerned about not attending church services on Sunday. Father Stephen Honeygosky, director of campus ministry, said Bishop Joseph Adamec, who visited campus Monday, excused dancers from Mass during Thon weekend. Catholic Community Secretary Janice Sherer e-mailed students on the Catholic e-mail list with this information on Tuesday.

"For those who practice their faith actively it is definitely an issue," Sherer said. "But, some students don't care, and say, 'I made a decision and this is more important than church.' "

Though some students requested to receive communion at Rec Hall on Sunday, the e-mail read, "Given the activity and sound, the bishop did not feel it would be a suitable environment to have a Communion Service there."

Honeygosky said Adamec's advice is only for dancers and not for moralers or other attendees.

"If there is time to go, they should," Honeygosky said. "All one has to do is be reasonable."

Sherer said dancers are excused until next weekend, but the Catholic Community offers Mass daily.