This deserves much greater attention, both inside and outside the PSU community, but here's the total amount raised by THON '12 to fight pediatric cancer. An amazing total, considering everything that has happened to PSU lately (not to mention horrible weather affecting canning weekends).
Well played, everyone. Will any national media dare to cover it?
(Photo via OnwardState. Check out their excellent coverage of the event.)
3 months ago
Chris Grovich
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It wasn't even mentioned in local papers over the weekend
Which i found to be disheartening. Regardless, Penn State did a phenominal job this year with THON! I am very proud of the students and everyone who was involved!
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven; that which we are, We Are - Tennyson
I swear, every year it gets more and more impressive
And I don’t mean the total. Just the event, the atmosphere, the singular focus for an entire weekend. Proud to have been a (tiny) part, and for the first time in a long time, I’m really sad I’ll be graduating in a few months.
@devon2012. Follow me.
This always makes me very proud to be a Penn Stater
To see the entire school working towards one unselfish goal, is just amazing and inspiring. Wish I could do more to help.
During the B-Ball game yesterday the announcers actually said some nice things about THON, and gave the total once they found out, which was refreshing to see BTN actually give PSU some love. Other than that, saw nothing in the papers, since you know this was something good that PSU did, not bad.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
My favorite comment
A friend tweeted this last night:
“Here’s a link to ESPN’s coverage of Thon for some positive Penn State news: "
Having been in grad school for a while I didn't get back to PSU for THON for maybe 5 years.
I was shocked to hear that people were getting left out in the cold in order to get in for various times around the weekend and that they basically closed the doors for Sunday by 8:00 in the morning (which meant that I watched from the live stream for the ending even though I was up there).
I obviously knew from the $ totals that THON was becoming an ever-bigger deal, but I am wondering when they’ll need to move THON to later in the spring and host it in Beaver Stadium (only half-joking).
And, I was talking with my gf about it, but I wonder what they’ll do to continue to grow the concept outside of just this weekend. You never want to turn people away who are going to give money, but you can’t realistically make THON that much bigger of an event without expanding to multiple venues, having multiple events, and doing more tie-in events (like the THON 5K).
That would be a great idea
Move THON to either right before or right after B/W game,a nd put it in the stadium, that way alot more people could attend, but I doubt it woudl be as cool, especially at night, the temp woudl really drop and be a problem.
But putting some videos and speakers in Rec hall, or elsewhere so that more people can participate woudl be a great idea, since clearly there is a cap to how many people can be in the BJC, ala fire code and all. But i guess logistics of multiple sites might be too much for these students to handle.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
It wouldnt be to much for the students to handle, its just a terrible idea to have it outside
THON volunteers are incredible – the timeline of the entire weekend is planned to the minute for over 50 areas of the BJC. The 14 overalls and 300 captains have completely personalized timelines of where they are supposed to be for the 46 hours. If it involves logistics, the students can get it done.
The reason that THON will never be held outside is because what would happen if it rained or stormed? The dancers and kids with cancer would have the potential to get extremely sick. The dancers would know what time it is as well, which if you have ever danced, is a big deal. Plus having multiple sites would completely ruin the togetherness that is present throughout the entire weekend.
Yeah I know
More of a pipe dream to have it in the stadium, to be able to incorporate as many people as possible. Since people were turned away from gettting in, it is a shame that they couldn’t be in there to enjoy the event and everything going on, but so is the limitations for anything that is this big and complex, but it is a good problem.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
psubach2013 - Are you saying that's good or bad?
The dancers would know what time it is as well, which if you have ever danced, is a big deal.
Humanum est pati.
I took it similar to a casino
You don’t know how tired you are if you have no clue what time of day it was. Keeps you blissfully ignorant of the time and how long you ahve been doing somehting if the lighting and everything else stayed the same.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Dancers are not supposed to know the time
It keeps them from realizing how long they have been at THON and such. Every year there are stories about dancers finding out the time and realizing they still have 5 more hours to go then they had thought and it completely wrecking their psyche.
How did they handle dancers tweeting this year, then?
Wouldn’t they have been able to see the time on the phone?
"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." Joseph Vincent Paterno 1926-2012
Well, it depends
Among my friends who danced, a few weren’t afraid to know what time it was, but one had her moraler change her clock every shift, so while she had a general idea of around what time, she couldn’t pinpoint it closer than within 5 or 6 hours.
@devon2012. Follow me.
by Devon Edwards on Feb 20, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
“back in the day” we had to know the time because you were only allowed a 20-minute break from dancing every eight hours and your break time was scheduled by your number. So you didn’t want to start drinking or eating too early in an 8-hour window or you had “needs” before you could get off the floor to take care of them. Plus the entertainment schedule was posted and we needed to know how long til the Phyrst Phamly played :-).
Humanum est pati.
by Smee on Feb 20, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It was pretty easy to find out what time is was in 1997.
I have to imagine it’s five times easier to find out now. And look, you’re on your feet for 48 hours straight and not sleeping. You’re going to go crazy. Either you know the time or you don’t, or they are out of Orange Juice, or the music sucks, or…..
You’re going to lose it for a few minutes.
...may we compete with fierce intensity, with the gifts that we have been given...
Yeah, there are a lot of problems with it being outside...
like I said, I was half-joking.
The time issue I don’t see as a big deal at all. When it was in rec hall you could tell through the couple sets of windows about when it was. My body, more than anything, is what was telling me all I needed to know. At 3-5 in the morning on Sunday my brain was in full-on shutdown. Aimlessly walking around the floor (and into people), I actually think it would have been real helpful to see the sun coming up. Besides… without some assistance, you’re only ever going to be able to guess within a couple of hours…
I have answers for most of the rest of the problems too, but having THON in February is a great winter wake-up that gives people a reason to come back to SC and that gives everyone something to do/look forward to in the middle of the winter. I actually think it would be a shame to move it. I was just bringing up the fact that THON is huge, but it may be nearing a sort of maximum size (and maybe a leveling off of how much money it can raise) because it has gotten to the point where they can’t get any more people/dancer couples in the building. There’s really nowhere indoors that is bigger, so that’s out. The only solutions are outdoors or spinning off other things THON-related to get people involved.
I mean, pretty soon the spectators are going to have to stay up for 46 hours in order to be there for the end of it.
by BNittsDeMilo on Feb 20, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions
The Phila. Inquirer put the story on p. 4 of the SPORTS section
and wrote about how the football team showed off its dance moves.
On the other hand, WPVI-Channel 6 in Philly had great coverage all weekend, including live broadcasts from the BJC.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring". ~Rogers Hornsby
His son is an alumni
and he lives in PA and loved JoePa, I think.
by Artiefufkin10 on Feb 20, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
My news station ran the story last night and this morning in Green Bay.
I talked to the producer yesterday afternoon after I watched the total revealed online and she said she’d run the story if there was video (which came down the wire 15 minutes before the news, phew). She also might have felt bad because I’m a big softie and was crying, hah. The morning show producer was already in working when I left around 1030 PM, and I asked him to run it too.
by psuwxman on Feb 20, 2012 1:01 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Out here in the WesternPA Hinterlands.....
It was prominently mentioned on all of the PGH TV newscasts an don the radio (due to the numbers of PSU Alumni that man or women the shows) and it was the headline in today’s Trib….so it was, I thought, good to great coverage overall. The main point is that THON was not relegated to a PSU Sports story out here. Like I said, the coverage was commendable.
" The Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the TRUTH, so help me God."
For those that think Beaver Stadium is a remote possibility
You need to look at the facilities. I was around when THON was being moved from Rec Hall to the BJC and the reason it works is that there are adequate facilities for the dancers. The BJC doesn’t have the same overall space as Rec Hall so some changes had to be made. Beaver Stadium has bigger issues beyond the obvious weather issue. 1) you’d have to cover the grass and I don’t just mean with tarps. Over two days the grass would not be suitable for having the number of people on it. 2) Locker rooms – there is simply not enough room to host that many students. 3) Security – Logistical NIGHTMARE! 4) Nighttime – Ok…so THON has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years BUT there is still lulls at night. Can you imagine the cavernous Beaver Stadium with 4,000 people in the stands?
These are just the tip of the iceberg. I mean maybe down the road THON can build it’s own 30K seat stadium for THON and concerts…jk!! This is a dilemma that wasn’t supposed to happen so quickly but it’s a good dilemma to have. It means that interest has continued to grow by leaps and bounds.
Exactly
As a current captain, it is difficult to turn people away from the BJC on Sunday but there are not many options.
Also we have discussed speculatively (no real plans, just having fun thinking about the future of THON) about THON building its own arena and have decided that that would never happen because THON would just want to give the money to the Four Diamonds Fund instead of spending it on itself.
by psubach2013 on Feb 20, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It is what it is.
Maybe you could only allow current students/Four Diamonds families in for the last four hours, but that doesn’t seem feasible or fair.
@devon2012. Follow me.
by Devon Edwards on Feb 20, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Its a great problem to have
But I don’t know how much it is going to change in the coming years. Id imagine the door closing times will get earlier each year. Maybe THON will move to a time in the future where there will be assigned seating in the lower bowl for each organization. Who knows.
I thought the stands filling warlywas pretty great.
I recommended to my org that they be there by 7 and half decided to just work the graveyard and spend the night. Considering how busy I was trying to make sure the floor situation was always covered, having the extra hands during a period where our dancers have traditionally hit a hard wall was fantastic.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
by dwf5095 on Feb 20, 2012 7:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
"I thought the stands dol
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
by dwf5095 on Feb 20, 2012 7:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
screw it.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
by dwf5095 on Feb 20, 2012 7:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I got in at around 2pm on Sunday
Waited in line starting at around noon, and I had been told that doors were closed at 830am. Lots of people in front of me left as more announcements came out that they were not going to allow any more people into the BJC. Bullheaded broad that I am, stayed in line, and managed to get in along with about 50 others who were waiting. Caught the tail end of family hour.
The only thing that I feel really bad about missing was Jay Paterno’s speech. Does anyone know if that’s on YouTube?
There is
Here it is…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lguNPNVhf60
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
by AriesGD on Feb 20, 2012 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
My friend got in line late too
and did the same. It worked out for her too, but not for a lot of people.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
The reason the turning away is a real problem is
that, like it or not, it influences people’s engagement in the event, which will influence their willingness to give and the number of people who are willing to give. This is also the problem with limiting access to specific organizations/people.
I’m not upset that I didn’t get in to see the end, I should have gotten up earlier (apparently). It also didn’t influence what I gave because I had already donated and I had danced (so I was donating anyway). But asking a THON noob to spend the entire day at the event, or to pop in there in the middle of the night when things clear out, is a bit much if they “don’t get it” yet. And that same noob isn’t going to drop a $10 or $20 in a can at the building if they can’t get inside and will be less likely to donate every year after that as a result. And, let’s be real… I don’t think anyone really “gets” THON until they’ve been there. I know as a freshman I thought, “What the heck is THON? Ok, so THON is short for dance-marathon and some students just get together to dance for kids with cancer? Why are so many people wearing THON shirts when it’s 6 months away?”
At the end of the day, the physical size limit is a real limit on how much money can be raised. That’s all I was really trying to say. Everybody works really hard to make THON happen and I hate to see them not make as much as they possibly can as a return on that investment. It should be no surprise it’s been talked about a bit, and I wasn’t trying to rain on the parade (GREAT problem to have), I am just curious what the solutions really are. In the couple minutes I thought about it, the only thing bigger, that is still on campus, and that has any hope of providing anywhere near the types of facilities needed is Beaver Stadium.
As for filling it up… well, if you had told someone in the 70’s that eventually THON was going to raise more than $10 million a year and that single organizations would raise more money in one year than they had in the entire decade… I imagine they would have laughed at you and told you it was impossible.
by BNittsDeMilo on Feb 20, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
What if
you divide the organizations up into two groups. Make one white THON, one blue THON, whatever. Have a “competition” on consecutive weekends, one group would do their thing the first weekend, have a grand reveal then, the other group would be able to do theirs the next weekend and see if they can beat the other group’s total. It would really raise the stakes for fundraising, making it a competition against each other, possibly taking THON to a whole new level. I could be a solution with the growing number of participants, dancers, ect.
In terms of philanthropy and civic mindedness, we have the best student body of any univeristy in the country.
By far.
Thon is the thing that gets the most recognition, as well it should. But also look at what happened when Virginia Tech had their shooting rampage a few years back. Our students wore VT colors to the Blue/White game to show their support. Didn’t they also attempt to raise money to help victims with that? Go back to when “The Thing” happened in November. In two days time the students were able to get everybody to wear blue to the Nebraska game and donate in order to bring child abuse to the nation’s attention. What other student body can rally so many people, and so quicky? To the best of my knowledge, none.
And I also think, at times, mindless violence is needed, like when they rioted after Joe’s firing. Weren’t riots and protests also tools to correct social injustice when other avenues failed? Personally, I think they were right to riot after Joe’s firing. I was speaking with my priest yesterday and we were discussing sports, Thon, etc,. and The Bible says a person has the right to face their accusers. Joe was never given that right. I’m glad the students did what they did that night. Shows maybe their generation won’t lay down in fear at the sight of trouble. Good for them.
All-in-all, a student body worth being proud of.
by Ab4PSU on Feb 20, 2012 1:52 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
There is a saying
That a revolution now and then is a good thing for democracy. I can never remeber exactly who said it, either a founding father or one fo the great thinkers of the Enlightenment, perhaps Voltaire.
I tried to argue with people, to no avail, that the demonstrations ( I hate calling them a riot, since they weren’t) were a way in which the student showed that no matter what, the truth is important. The people responsible should be punished no matter what. I don’t doubt that is Joe had done something wrong and charged by the GJ the students would ask him to leave. If you followed with the demonstration, they were demanding Spanier step down, that Curley step down, and that answers be given. They wanted real justice done, no matter who would lose their jobs or anything like that.
Penn State, has the best students in the coutry, they are very caring and try to help out as much as they possibly can whether in our own back yard or across the country. Now if they would just get to a game on time.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Pretty sure that was Thomas Jefferson
We Are because You Were
Black Shoe Diaries
by Kyle_Martin on Feb 20, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
Don't quote me on this:
‘The tree of liberty must occasionally be replenished with the blood of tyrants and patriots’.
…or something to that effect.
Unrepentant Joe Paterno Apologist®
by leeharvey418 on Feb 21, 2012 6:09 AM EST up reply actions
The one I was thinking of
Was by Jefferson, but think he was quoting John Locke.
“Every democracy needed a good revolution every hundred years to set itself straight.”
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Being a freshman
This was my first THON and it was one of the coolest, most amazing experiences ive ever had.
"The Mets have shown me more ways to lose than I even knew existed."
-Casey Stengel
by He'sGotPotential on Feb 20, 2012 5:54 PM EST reply actions
It only gets better.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
by dwf5095 on Feb 20, 2012 7:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
dwf as a junior I cannot agree more
THON has really shaped my life at Penn State, and the more you give to THON, the more it gives you.
Enjoy it while you can
I went back this year as an alum, and while it was fun, it isn’t quite the same as when you’re a student. Regardless, I did have a great time.
Also, thanks to both you and dwf for all your hard work. What you students accomplished was amazing.
I'm in the same year and feel the same way.
THON itself gets stressful, and I’m not going to pretend being in the stands for 40+ was fun the whole time. But I spent this afternoon with my THON kid and her cousin teaching whoever walked by the Creamery how to dougie. Those moments just can’t be replaced.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for this university." "Oh, I haven't done enough." - Joe Paterno.
Time wisely spent!
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.
Erma Bombeck
by ComfortHePuHuTh on Feb 21, 2012 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
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