More than 2,500 student volunteers are the driving force behind the logistics of the largest student-run philanthropy in the world -- so what does it look like behind the scenes of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon?

Just weeks after 2002's Thon, overall committee applications were filled out and captains were chosen to prepare for the following year. The 2003 Overall Chair, Lee Kimball, has been working with 14 committee-chairs and an advisor to organize this year's event.

About 30 Thon-related activities occur throughout the year in addition to the actual event, Kimball said. These programs raise dancer morale and encourage the Four Diamond's families and Penn State students to interact.

Anyone can apply for positions as committee members or chairs, he said.

Kimball said it is a misconception that Thon is a completely greek community project. More than 260 organizations contribute to Thon, and only about 50 of them are greek, he said.

Though most students know a committee member or have at least heard of each group, the ambiguous titles leave some students wondering what exactly these people do.

Morale

Smile -- only 39 hours and 16 minutes left!

Moralers focus on the health and safety of the individual dancers, Kimball said.

Each Thon dancer is assigned a personal moraler, making this the largest committee. Though the morale committee holds dinners and social events for the dancers in the months leading up to Thon, the committee's main responsibilities are during the weekend.

Moralers pair up so that throughout the 48 hours, two moralers can care for each other's dancers in shifts, resting to retain their high spirits throughout the weekend, Kimball said.

Examples of moraler duties include bringing the dancers water, writing cheerful dancer mail and surprising dancers in the weeks leading up to -- and on the weekend of -- Thon with the dancer's favorite treats.

Moralers are encouraged to spend time with their dancers before Thon to learn their likes and dislikes and help them prepare to best accommodate the dancers' needs for 48 hours.

Alanna Zentz is one of four dancers representing the Schreyer Honors College on the dance floor of Thon. Zentz and her dance partner, Sarah Kennedy, are sharing moraler Jessica Soklow.

Zentz said the biggest morale event she has participated in was color wars. Teams are made up of dancers and moralers who compete to win the four diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength.

This year the families who benefit from Thon participated in color wars, reminding the students why they are doing what they're doing.

There are about 20 color wars events during Thon and the top three teams' flags will be displayed on stage, encouraging the dancers to make it through the 48 hours.

Aside from caring for individual dancers, moralers choreograph the line dance and take care of the general festivities.

Family Relations

Who is it all for?

"The family relations committee is the main link between the Four Diamonds families and the Penn State students and community," said Jennifer Cohen, family relations chair.

This committee is involved with events from September through February, including a new-member orientation at the Hershey Medical Center.

"[Orientation] made me look forward to seeing [the families] again," Cohen said. "It makes you work harder," she said.

The family relations committee is in charge of the adopt-a-family program, which assigns individual Four Diamonds families to groups raising money for Thon. The committee is also spread throughout campus during the actual weekend.

"[Waring Commons] is the home base for families," Cohen said. "They can escape from the chaos of Rec Hall."

Waring Commons has arts and crafts, videos and family relations chairs to answer questions throughout Thon.

The family relations committee also prepares for Penn State Wish, a program for the children who benefit from Thon. This program grants pediatric cancer patients wishes like playing with Penn State football players, getting manicures donated by local businesses and going on a tour of the University Creamery.