Those present in the Bryce Jordan Center in the dark, early hours of Saturday morning (between approximately 4 and 7 a.m.) may have looked on in wonder at the young man featured on the big screens pulling some seriously rad dance moves. Heck, if you saw him you might have even been one of the many people trying to mimic him.
We at Onward State had the opportunity to talk to Mike "Wiley" Barnes Saturday night. Wiley is an initiate of Alpha Kappa Psi and was at the BJC to support the fraternity's dancers. And he has decided to support them, as well as the rest of the 708 dancers, by doing a little dancing of his own.
"Since the people dancing for THON have to be here for 46 hours, I'm going to be here as much as I can and I'll dance 10 times as hard," Wiley said of his inspiration for giving his all in the stands. He added that he was, in fact, the very first person in line before the doors opened for THON 2011.
Social media has been instrumental in spreading the message of THON, and not just during the one weekend a year that celebrates the culmination of 365 days of preparation. How often does it seem that a celebrity is bringing to light the great cause that is Penn State's Dance Marathon, highlighting our accomplishment as the nation's largest student-run philanthropy? Hell, at this point, her continued advocacy of THON is probably Khloe Kardashian's lone redeeming asset.
“AWOO! AWOO! AWOO!” all of independent THON organization Springfield’s members shout in response to Joe Giordano’s question. This has become the battlecry of the organization, which has adopted a Spartan mascot of sorts. It’s a fitting shout, borrowed from the movie 300 and applied, somewhat fittingly, to an org that prides itself on being small.
There are big heads at THON, and no, not the kind that are filled with arrogance and hot air. Onward State's own John Tecce takes a moment from THONing to explain how Betty White and baby Carlos from the Hangover made it to the event.
It has been 27 hours since I stood up from the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center. My behind has not touched any surface since, with the exception of a toilet in the men's restroom in the Bryce Jordan Center (a Corner Room breakfast will do that to you).
For THON veterans and newcomers alike, the event is quite a spectacle. Yet amongst all of the sights, there are a handful that stand out. Here are five things to keep an eye out for during this year’s THON.
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