Buses run entire length of Thon

The Digital Collegian - Published independently by students at Penn State

[ Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 ]

THON 2005

By Ainsley Maloney

Collegian Staff Writer

At 3:45 yesterday morning, the Blue Loop pulled up looking like a mini-Thon on wheels.

Moralers, Thon supporters and students poured onto the bus well into the early morning thanks to Centre Area Transportation Authority's (CATA) extended schedule, which kept the buses running all 48 hours of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"It's a good thing -- it gets more people to get out and come to Thon," Kelly Conover (junior-advertising) said. "No one wants to walk from East Halls."

A portion of the Penn State Bookstore's $15,000 donation made the 48-hour bus system possible for the second consecutive year.

Tom Bauer, Penn State Bookstore general manager, said Thon Marketing Chair Eric Malis suggested the extended bus schedule, and he thought it was a good idea.

PHOTO: Michael Ghourdjian/Collegian

A Centre Area Transportation Authority bus rolls past the Power Plant on Burrowes Road. The Blue and White Loops both ran all 48 hours of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Drivers did not work more than 6 hours straight on their shifts during Thon.

"We wanted people to be able to go back and forth from Rec Hall safely," Bauer said. "We're trying to make it as easy as possible for the students to participate in Thon."

Cat Corl, a CATA driver, said it is not easy for her to work the extended 2 to 8 a.m. shift since she is used to working from 2 to 10 p.m.

"It's hard to get used to," said Corl, who napped earlier in the day to prepare for her early-bird shift. "I'm not a late night person -- I'm used to getting off at 10 and going to bed, but I'd rather have [students] here than out walking around."

James Ewing, CATA operations supervisor, said no driver had more than a seven-hour shift. One set of drivers worked a normal shift until 2:30 a.m., he said, and the next set of drivers took over from there, working overtime.

"That way we don't have the same drivers out there for an excessive amount of time," Ewing said. "It's something that Penn State does, and they need all the cooperation they can get."

Luke Marodi (freshman-mechanical engineering), a communications committee member, said he was happy to know he could catch the bus when he came back for his next shift.

"When you're leaving at 4 a.m. and it's freezing, it's definitely a better thing to have the bus," Marodi said. "I didn't even know they were running it, so that's good to know."

Tom Rickards (freshman-agriculture), who was waiting for the bus at 2:45 a.m., was happy he could count on the bus at a time when it normally wouldn't be running.

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