Mats were laid. Speakers were hung. Banners proudly displayed the Thon logo.

The stage was set last night in Rec Hall for the 2005 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"We are trying to put all the mats down and bring in the tables, and by the end of the night have everything set up," Michelle Gagnon (freshman-business), said.

Gagnon took part in Thon operations committee's (OPP) big move last night. The big move transforms Rec Hall, into the site for Thon, all in one night.

"Everybody is really excited, but for now they're just trying to get the job done," Gagnon said.

The atmosphere was relaxed during the big move. OPP captains quietly paced the floor, as committee members held down mats for taping. Other students helped bring boxes back and forth across the Rec Hall floor, while a group of students in matching red and white shirts helped tape wires down next to the stage.

"Everybody knows what they are doing, it is now being taken care of," Gagnon said.

Greg DeBuck, Thon OPP overall, said during the weekend, OPP will also be responsible for constructing a variety of different things for morale and hospitality events. Each OPP captain is in charge of different aspects of Thon, such as setting up and tearing down Rec Hall, bathroom breaks, and being a liaison between other Thon committees.

OPP members have also been running events leading up to weekend such as the Thon recycling effort.

Teri Rosenberg, recycling effort captain, said since December, student groups have been giving aluminum cans to various drop-off areas to raise money for Thon. In return, student groups receive spirit points for the cans they have collected.

"I love it. It is a great way to be involved with putting Thon together," Rosenberg said. "I love working with my hands."

DeBuck said during Thon weekend OPP members will be in charge of organizing bathroom breaks, mopping the floor four times and cleaning up after meals.

"We split the hall into three sections," he said. "Everyone moves to two sections while we mop the empty third. It is done in 15 minutes."

He added an advantage to working on an OPP committee is that each member gets to be on the floor for four hours. During those hours they will need to set up two morale events and a meal. OPP members will also be on call for those four hours to help out any other committee captains.

"This gives them extra time to be with the kids and dancers," he said.

DeBuck said sometimes it is hard to explain to new committee members what Thon weekend really entails.

"I'm a little nervous about my shifts. I'm not usually up from three to seven in the morning," Meghan Tracy (freshman-kinesiology) said.

She added she has wanted to be involved since she heard about Thon a few years ago. Tracy said she chose to be a part of OPP because of the kind of work she will get to do.

"It's more of stuff I like to do, like behind the scenes. You're not really noticed, but you make a huge difference," Tracy said.

DeBuck said OPP will be working from 8 a.m. Friday until around 1 a.m. Monday, which will be a total of about 65 hours.

"Honestly, I am kind of looking forward to having this be over because it's a lot of work," Nicholas Baran, construction captain, said.

As a construction captain, Baran is in charge of fixing all the tables that will be placed on the floor during Thon weekend. He added he is looking forward to seeing the final project of OPP's work on Thon weekend.

"Seeing that you actually accomplish something and that all your hard work paid off -- it's a good feeling," Baran said.