The Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon overall committee may restructure motivational and fundraising events called "mini-Thons" that have become popular at commonwealth campuses in recent years.

The "mini-Thons," which have been held at some commonwealth campuses for the last three to five years, help to motivate and recruit students and community members to help with Thon, Jerry Livingston, president of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG), said.

Livingston said the events can also serve as fundraisers. Last year, commonwealth campuses raised about $290,000 for Thon, he said.

Thon overall chairman Mike Funk said, the events were often "rally-type" and differed from campus to campus.

Funk said the overall committee wanted to make sure that all events were registered and conducted properly, although specific changes have not yet been decided upon.

"They're going to be more structured in a different way to make sure that they are properly planned and executed," he said, adding that all official Thon events must be registered in an online database.

Funk said the overall committee is also considering ways to use Thon resources to help make the events more effective. For example, he said Thon committee members could help plan and organize the events.

Funk said he did not think the restructuring would reduce the amount of money raised by the commonwealth campuses. In fact, he said he hoped fundraising would increase this year and in future years.

However, Livingston took a less optimistic view of the changes.

"It will affect the fundraising for the commonwealth," he said. "It will not be a good year for them."

Livingston said he was worried that commonwealth campuses might not adjust well to the changes and would "drop the ball" on fundraising.

"My biggest concern is that by doing this move we will have some campuses go apathetic on Thon, which I don't want to see," he said.

He said he had already received some negative feedback from campuses regarding the changes.

Livingston said the overall committee had also raised issues about liability and compliance with Thon principles.

For example, he said one campus had tried to charge spectators to attend an event, which violates Thon guidelines.

Funk and Lena Matternas, Thon rules and regulations overall chairman, will meet with commonwealth campus representatives at this weekend's CCSG meeting to discuss the issue, according to the meeting's agenda.

Penn State spokeswoman Jill Shockey said the administration did not play a role in the decision to restructure the commonwealth campus events.