THON Weekend is easily one of, if not, the most exciting weekends of the year. Seeing 15,000 Penn Staters come together over one cause is endlessly inspiring. However, we need to remember that this weekend is for the kids, and the meaning behind that mantra does not just extend to our mission.

Over the course of THON Weekend, we must remember that we are surrounded by hundreds of children and their families. To these children, we are role models and friends. What we do around them does not go unnoticed. We need to make sure the impression we leave is positive.

A week or so ago, I found myself as I always do: procrastinating some assignment on some website that had zero correlation to what I actually should have been doing. I found an article summarizing five or so things college students do that are not typically acceptable in the real world, one of them being excessive cursing in public places and situations.

With so many families and children around the Bryce Jordan Center THON weekend, we need to always be careful of what we say and how we are conducting ourselves. Even if your organization’s THON family is not around, there’s likely to be another family or child nearby, especially on the floor. There’s really no need to be walking around cursing every other word while at THON. This is college, I’m sure you know other words by now.

While at THON, it is also important to dress appropriately. THON isn’t the time for crop tops or to have anything hanging out. If you are going to wear pinnies or cut off shirts, wear a sports bra under it instead of lacy bandeaus or anything else. They’ll be more comfortable by the end of the 46 hours anyway. Rule of thumb? If you wouldn’t wear it to a party for children you babysit or a younger cousin, don’t wear it to THON.

This should go without saying, but if you are going to try to come to THON anything but sober, don’t bother. Rules and Regulations committee members and captains will rightfully throw you out. If you need to be drunk or anything else to experience THON, you’re doing it wrong.

THON may be run by college students, but this weekend is not for us, it’s for the kids. Let’s keep it that way.