While I understand that the commonwealth campuses are discouraged by the regulation of their events, why can they disregard rules established for years that all other Thon organizations have to follow?

Commonwealth campuses can fundraise as much as any other group at Penn State, but by representing Thon, they must uphold the values and regulations that serve to protect Thon and ensure its future.

Thon isn't just an organization at Penn State. It is a nationally recognized philanthropy that has a public image to uphold. Each year, together as Penn State, we raise more money than any other student-run philanthropy in the world. How can we ask people to donate if the public view of Thon is tarnished?

Thon spirit is important. Anyone who has met a Thon child knows that they come to Thon weekend to feel like any other child does, not to see the grand total at the end. Running around, playing with big kids and doing everything that cancer has robbed from them is what Thon is to them. We have a responsibility to uphold the values of Thon, to ensure the safety of all and to keep it a place where the kids can be kids.