Justin Curry, news editor
Sutter, Meyn prepare to
the nights away 'for the
by Justin Curry
news editor
.S...rnor Jelin Sutter and junk)! J,)ri Meyn will
be joining. mine Olen 65n students from across
the commonwealth this weekend to save lives.
The 31st annual Penn State Dance Marathon,
beginning today at 7 p.m., is a 48-hour dance
marathon that raises money for children with
cancer. All participants must stay awake and on
their feet for all 48 hours.
Proceeds from the Dance Marathon, or THON,
go to the Four Diamonds Fund, an organization
that provides financial and emotional support for
families of children with cancer.
Over the past 30 years, Penn State University
has raised more than $23 million for the fund,
providing almost 90 percent of the organization's
funding. Last year alone, students raised $3.6
million.
Solicitation begins in late October every year
and ends during THON weekend. Student or
ganizations state-wide hold various fund-raisers,
canning weekends and pledge booking weekends
to raise money for the cause.
Throughout its history, THON has become the
world's largest student-run philanthropy. It has
become a tradition at Penn State, more than 1,000
students volunteering their time to help out
throughout the weekCnd.
"I'm very excited to be dancing in THON,"
said Sutter, MKTG 08, "but I'm also very ner
vous. I hope my body holds up during the mara
thon."
"There are two words to describe my feelings
about dancing in THON," said Meyn, COMBA
06, "Harlem shake."
Other colleges around the country have started
catching the "Thon Fever," and have begun hav
ing Dance Marathons of their own. To date, Penn
State's is by far the largest. The university clos
est to Penn State's total is Northwestern Univer
sity. which in 1999 collected a little over
$200,000.
Sutter and Meyn were selected by the THON
committee to represent Behrend in early Decem
ber. A points competition was held in the com-
FUNNIES
Friday, February 20, 2004
Jon Meyn
mittee and all of those interested in dancing
earned points for attending meetings, participat
ing in fund-raisers, and various other activites.
At the last meeting of the semester, Sutter and
Meyn were announced as the dancers.
"I was totally stunned," said Sutter, "but so
honored that I was given the opportunity to
dance."
This was Sutter's second time being selected
by the committee to represent Behrend, but last
year, she was unable to attend due to conflicts
with her cheerleading schedule.
ALWAYS
pE N K,I ST.t t r,4:- . k
MA: AT, ON 200
The Behrend Beacon
dance
kids'
"I was heartbroken, - said Sutter. "It was by
far the hardest decision I had to make."
"I was extremely surprised." said Meyn. "Ev
eryone else has done so much work this year and
I'm just glad to be representing Behrend."
Not only does every campus send dancers to
THON, but so do many of the organizations at
University Park. The Interfraternity and
Panhellenic Councils at University Park started
this marathon in 1973, and up until recently, com
monwealth campuses were not allowed to par
ticipate in THON.
Each dance team is allowed to create a list of
people they wish to allow on the dancing floor
at THON. This list can be comprised of friends
and family, as well as professors and co-work
ers. This gives the dancers the ability to con
nect with a familiar face when they are sur
rounded by complete strangers and have been
awake for a long time.
Each team is also allowed to select a name for
themselves. Names in the past have included
"Kiss Mc, I'm Tired," "Feeling GRB for 48," and
"Legally Blonde." Sutter and Meyn have de
cided to name themselves the "Cherry Lifesav
ers" this year.
"We chose that name because when it comes
down to it, we're THON virgins," said Meyn.
This is Sutter's second year being invovled
with THON, she was committee co-chair last
year. Meyn's tenure with THON is a little longer.
This is his third year with the organization, and
his first two were served while being a brother
of Alpha Tau Omega, a fraternity at University
Park.
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