Somebody knows who requested that the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) end at 4 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., but nobody's telling.

The controversy started last month with a press release from Thon organizers that said at the request of the student leaders, Penn State President Graham Spanier negotiated a blackout of men's and women's home basketball games on Thon weekend next year.

According to the press release, "The agreement with athletics officials included a commitment to shorten the window the facility is unavailable for other purposes."

However, Assistant Athletic Director Jeff Nelson has consistently maintained that the athletic department had nothing to do with requesting changes to the Thon schedule.

Bryce Jordan Center officials have also deflected responsibility onto other parties for cutting Thon short.

"We were not, nor should we have been, privy to the details of those talks," BJC General Manager Bob Howard said in an e-mail message.

BJC Marketing Manager Bernie Punt added that the BJC will host no other event Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thon weekend next year -- the calendar is already set.

A press release from the administration followed the next day, which said Spanier had arranged for no basketball games to be played at the BJC during Thon weekend. It went on to further state that the event had to be shortened in accordance with an "agreement with university officials."

Confused yet?

No one is giving any straight answers on why the traditional 48-hour dance marathon is suddenly no longer 48 hours.

Because it's the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation, a model for countless other dance marathons, a national news story, a $4.2 million charity event, somebody better start talking.

Not only does this violate the basic principles of Public Relations 101, it also makes the university look like it is hiding something sinister. And furthermore, it shows a blatant disregard for the intelligence of the students and alumni who care about the future of Thon.

Of course, they are going to question the rationale behind the three-hour cut. Why shouldn't they? Present, past and future students have a right to know why one of cornerstones of Penn State tradition is changing.

Thon organizers have said there are a number of minor reasons why the time cut will benefit all the students involved, including dancer health and safety and class attendance on the days after Thon.

If any of these reasons are behind the shortened schedule, the university should be honest with the students and alumni. If Spanier has medical studies and doctors say 48 hours of dancing does irreparable damage to dancer health, then why doesn't he say so? And if it's a combination of multiple factors that ultimately have the best interest of the students in mind, just tell us.

For the students, for the alumni, and of course, the kids, the administration needs to provide some answers soon.