Syllabus Week is over, so you have no excuse to put off those applications anymore. Applications are now open for the 12 committees that will comprise THON 2015, and need to be turned in by Friday, Sept. 12.

One of the most (if not the most) popular ways to get involved in THON, joining a committee is a great experience for many Penn State students. Students must apply before 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 12 at think.psu.edu in addition to delivering a hard copy of their application to Alumni Hall in the HUB between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, September 12.

For those who are unaware of what each committee actually does (there is one new one!), Onward State’s Ali Fogarty summed up each committee’s responsibilities before and during THON Weekend. Check them out below:

Communications

The Communications Committee is made up of six committees with roughly 30 committee members each. Leading up to THON, each committee serves a specific purpose including Alumni Relations, Campus Outreach Students & Faculty, working with Mini-THONs, and more. If you’re trying to dance, COMM allows you to do so if selected.

During THON Weekend, Communications Committee Members staff information stations on the BJC concourse as well as lost and found booths on the concourse and the event level.

Donor and Alumni Relations

Donor and Alumni Relations is one of THON’s smaller committees with only 80 committee members. DAR Committee Members assist their captains with various tasks throughout the fundraising season. During THON Weekend, DAR Committee Members assist with donor tours and other events held for donors.

DAR accepts students who study abroad during the spring semester as well as those who are trying to dance.

Entertainment

Entertainment Committee Members work to capture and preserve memories of THON 2015 throughout the school year. Committee members assist with video filming and production at THON events and THON Weekend. Entertainment Committee Members also assist with set up and tear down the THON Weekend stage. Each year, Entertainment selects 20 committee members, and these individuals are not eligible to dance.

Finance

Finance Committee Members assist the Finance Captains with various tasks leading up to THON, including counting money following canning weekends and helping keep track of donations. Committee members help run donation stations throughout THON Weekend.

Individuals hoping to dance are eligible to serve as Finance Committee Members.

Hospitality

Hospitality Committee Members help serve families, dancers, and other volunteers throughout the THON season and THON Weekend. Leading up to THON Weekend, committee members work events like the THON 5k and 100 Days ’til THON and help work concessions at THON basketball games at the BJC. During THON Weekend, HOS Committee Members help serve meals to dancers and families while also upkeeping Captain and Family Lounges and the Snack Shack. Committee members also assist with concession stands during THON Weekend.

Hospitality Committee Members are unable to dance THON Weekend.

Merchandise

Merchandise Committee Members are split into two committees: Distribution and Order Management. Each committee works with the Merchandise Captains to ensure successful sales at the THON Store throughout the school year and THON Weekend as well as tasks specific to their individual committee.

Individuals hoping to dance are not able to do so as Merchandise Committee Members.

Dancer Relations

Dancer Relations Committee Members serve as one of the THON community’s largest sources of motivation and spirit throughout the fundraising season and THON Weekend. In preparation for THON Weekend, Dancer Relations members are trained to aid dancers with various emotional and physical issues they may face throughout the weekend. During THON, each of the more than 700 Dancer Relations members are paired with a dancer who they motivate throughout the 46 hours.

Given the nature of the position, Dancer Relations Committee Members are obviously not eligible to dance THON Weekend. (This is the first year this committee goes by this name, having gone by Morale previously.)

OPPerations

OPPerations Committee Members — more commonly known as OPP —  work from beginning of set up through the end of tear down THON Weekend to ensure the event runs smoothly for all volunteers, families, and spectators. Aside from assembling and disassembling THON, OPP Committee Members keep THON safe and tidy by mopping mats on the floor and ensuring trash is properly disposed of, among other tasks. OPP also runs Slides of Strength for dancers throughout the weekend.

OPP Committee Members are not able to dance THON Weekend.

Public Relations

Public Relations Committee Members serve on Event Management, Photography, or Street Teams Committees. Committee members work to spread awareness and the message of THON throughout the community by promoting and planning various events and fundraising events throughout the community. In addition, Photography Committee Members work to capture as many aspects of THON as possible throughout the year and during THON Weekend. PR Committee Members also assist Public Relations Captains in managing members of the media during THON Weekend.

Public Relations Committee Members except those on the Photography Committee are able to dance THON Weekend if given the opportunity.

Rules and Regulations (Event Safety/Volunteer Safety)

Rules and Regulations Committee Members play a crucial role in THON Weekend’s success by keeping everyone in and around the Bryce Jordan Center safe. This year, R&R will be split into two separate committees, Event Safety and Volunteer Safety.

The Event Safety members will be in charge of the security of the BJC during THON Weekend, managing the Pass System throughout THON Weekend and ensuring that spectators respect and observe both the BJC and THON rules.

The Volunteer Safety members will be used as a resource for organizations to use if they fundraising questions or concerns. It will be used as more of an educational resource for orgs, but members will still work as security during THON Weekend.

Rules and Regulations Committee Members are not permitted to dance THON Weekend.

Special Events

The 120 Special Events Committee Members work alongside their captains on events such as the THON 5k and the Family Carnival. During THON Weekend, committee members help build and work the THON History Tour and the THON Museum while also staffing concession stands on the concourse of the Bryce Jordan Center.

Like DAR, students studying abroad for Spring 2015 or trying to dance in THON 2015 may still participate in Special Events if selected.