As I sat at my computer last night, I can’t help but feel somber about all of the current events swirling around us. Rallies, protests, and marches are being coordinated at every Penn State landmark, and all everyone has been able to talk about since the start of the week are the allegations surrounding some of our beloved school symbols. Some people are saying they are ashamed to be Penn Staters, that somehow the actions of a few have caused all of us to become embarrassed.

But why is this? This one scandal doesn’t define us as a University, but other things, positive ones, do.

Today is 100 Days ’til THON. A day that in the past has been celebrated as the official beginning of the countdown until Penn State’s most well-known event: THON Weekend. On this day, THONers swarm the HUB, Old Main lawn, and all over campus to promote what this school should be extremely proud of.

Tomorrow’s events include fun and games in the HUB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., then a silent rave on Old Main lawn at 2:45, followed by a group FTK picture at 3 p.m. Last year alone, THON raised over $9.5 million for the kids. This is something our university should be extremely proud of. So proud in fact, that they should want to shout from the rooftops that they are, indeed, Penn State proud.

So tomorrow, instead of hanging your head in shame, hold your head high and be proud, because We Are…making a difference in the life of a child. And that is what we will be known for.