The Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) saves lives. Thon works to raise money to fund cancer research. Unfortunately, all the wonderful experiences so many of us have had are must be cut short, or do they? ("Thon 2007 cut short for basketball," March 27).

I hardly believe the real reason Thon is being shortened is because of basketball. Is Penn State really trying to tell me that the Bryce Jordan Center will be emptied out, cleaned up and filled up again for a basketball game after Thon? How can the possibility of a basketball game take priority over a philanthropy that helps kids with cancer?

If we have to cut Thon short this year, what is next? Will Thon 2010 be only 40 hours? I hardly see the difference in changing Thon by a couple of hours, unless it is a sign of more changes to come. Dancing for 48 hours straight is a tradition in which Penn State prides itself. Why not stay in Rec Hall then? If moving to a bigger venue is going to ruin the tradition, it should stay where it is. I find it hard to believe the university cannot reschedule a basketball game to avoid this conflict with an event that has so much tradition.