Penn State announced yesterday that the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon for 2007 has officially been shortened to 46 hours, two hours less than its traditional 48 hours.

Thon 2007 will officially begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and end at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, according to a press release.

The time limit was a stipulation put in place during Penn State President Graham Spanier's negotiations with the Big Ten Conference and Penn State athletics when arranging Thon's move to the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC), said Megan Kendrick, Thon public relations chairwoman.

"It was something that was put into the negotiations by Graham Spanier when he dealt with the Big Ten and athletics at Penn State," Kendrick said.

Thon 2007 Overall Chairman Michael Funk said the reduction was necessary for the resumption of regular activities in the BJC following Thon.

"The biggest thing is, with the move to the new facility including Thon, Penn State athletics and the Penn State administration, there were a lot of sacrifices that had to be made, including men's and women's basketball losing a weekend of home games," Funk said.

Funk said the Thon overall committee, in turn, agreed to do its best to turn the facility back to normal once Thon was over, which involved an earlier ending time.

"We did have to make a few sacrifices, yet we're extremely happy because the positives outweigh any adjustments thus far," Funk said.

Kendrick said the move to the BJC will give Thon better accommodations and improved facilities, including more bathrooms, access to kitchens and improved climate control, which Rec Hall lacked.

"It really boils down to student safety and a much better experience for the families," Kendrick said. "The positives that we gain are so tremendous."

The move will also allow Thon to use fewer buildings and make it "more compact," Bill O'Tormey, Thon operations overall chairman, said.

"In the past, we have had to occupy five buildings, and this year we are able to move down to two buildings, with the other building being the Intramural building," Kendrick said.

During last year's event, the doors to Rec Hall had to be shut four times because of overcrowding. With an increase in seating capacity from 6,600 to 15,000, the BJC will prevent situations like that from developing this year, Kendrick said.

"The Bryce Jordan Center will give more people the opportunity to view the event in its entirety," Kendrick said.

The move has also led to an increase in student participation in Thon, with about 1,100 more committee members than last year and an increase in Thon captains from 245 to 295, she said.

Kendrick said that both the Thon overall committee and the Four Diamonds Families fully support this year's move to the Bryce Jordan Center and the reduction in time.

"It's not about how many hours we dance or how many dollars we raise," she said. "It's about giving children a normal life."