The physical tolls of THON can be challenging--Penn State's Dance Marathon wouldn't be so special if it weren't for the rigor of staying awake and on your feet for 46 hours. But while foot massages and piggyback rides can help alleviate some of the physical stresses, it's sometimes even tougher to stave off the mental monotony of nearly 2 days on the Bryce Jordan Center floor. That's where Color Wars come in.
I don't know about you, but there are a few songs that I and the rest of the Onward State staff are sick of hearing on repeat. We're looking at you, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys and Lady Gaga. So we've got some suggestions for DJ Larry Moore to add to next year's playlist. Check out our suggestions after the break.
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.
“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.
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).
In a sea of dancers eating, playing jenga, dancing and playing with kids, Onward State approached dancer Samantha Cohen for a quick interview.
Check out the full interview after the break.