THON: FOR THE KIDS

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, referred to as THON, is dedicated to the quest to conquer childhood cancer. 37 years ago, THON consisted of 34 Penn State participants who worked together and raised $2,000. Last year, with over 15,000 participants, THON raised over $6 million.

Every year in February, the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, holds a 46 hour no sitting and no sleeping dance marathon, all proceeds benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital.

• Childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer of children - more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined.
• Cancer in childhood occurs regularly, randomly, and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region.
• One in every 330 Americans will develop cancer by the age of 20. On the average, 12,500 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year.
• On the average, 1 in every 4 elementary school has a child with cancer. The average high school has two students who are a current or former cancer patient. In the U.S., about 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every weekday.

These are just a few of many facts, which compel students to become involved. The success of THON would not exist without the effort and support of Penn State students and Alumni, not only in Pennsylvania, but across the entire world.

THON is just one of many things that makes Penn State such a unique University. The unity portrayed at all the Penn State campuses across Pennsylvania, and the dedication and commitment of students, faculty, and Alumni, is nothing short of admirable. Everything is always FOR THE KIDS.

http://www.thon.org/

From the Frat House to the White House

College students across the nation took a stand in the recent 2008 election. After taking an active roll in political awareness the past four years, the reasons responsible for the immense incline in interest amongst young voters is not difficult to find. But with so many factors determining the involvement of young voters, how does individual college campuses across the nation intrigue students to become involved?

In past elections, statistics show that college students have been everything but compelled to have a voice, and there are several reasons to consider. Maybe if Election Day was considered a holiday, then students might enjoy the benefits of having no class, and possibly recognize the day as something important. Maybe students are just lazy and would rather not go the extra mile. When asked, students blame their lack of motivation on the feeling their vote does not count, and the idea that politicians do not target young voters with the issues they discuss in campaigns. So what was the difference with the 2008 election?

More than two hundred students at the University of Richmond voluntarily took time out of their weekend to listen to a speech about Senator Barack Obama’s presidential bid. The University of Maryland has an organization called the Young Democrats, who marched from dorm room to dorm room, encouraging their fellow students to vote. Students at American University rode buses from New Hampshire to Florida, offering their help to the campaigns earlier last year.

Consider the question, “Does the interest in becoming active develop from knowledge?” Education is important and extremely vital when forming an opinion and defending it. American University offers a “Politics and the Media” course for all students. The University of Maryland applies voting registration as a requirement in certain courses. Multiple Universities invite speakers and hold forums open to the students to listen and participate. If students have even just a general understanding of issues, they will be more likely to subconsciously form an opinion. The more these issues are dwelled on in the environment these students live in, the better they will understand and the more likely their opinions will surface.

According to the registry in Virginia, more than 60 percent of total new registrants in 2008 were under the age of 25. The 2008 election has proven that students can be reached if you find the right approach to engage them.

Students can be peer pressured into doing “just one more keg stand” at the frat party, but can they be peer pressured into having an active role in a presidential election if that seems to be the “thing” to do. In which case, would it be appropriate to label a positive enforcement as peer pressure? One form can end you up in bed all day nauseated with a headache, and the other gives you a voice at the polls. This can also be a question of what the trends are amongst college students in order of importance.

Blogs: Friend or Foe?

Since I started my education at Penn State, the world of blogging has been thrown in my direction numerous times. I never fully caught on to the niche, but in some perspectives, blogging ranks high as a form of communication. In other perspectives, blogs are uninteresting, overrated, and can ultimately backfire.

I think it only makes sense that everyone should be apprehensive about the outcomes that could arise from the things they write, which hundreds or even thousands of people can see. I also think that being somewhat conservative and prudent in the online world is common sense. I have no problem admitting that I'm not only highly opinionated, but probably the complete opposite of conservative. However, I will also admit how imperative it is to me that future employers only have limited resources that can be used against me. Who wouldn't agree with that?

I read somewhere that writing coherently and consistently is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks for a human being to undertake. That's interesting to me, seeing as though consistent writing defines my current educational path. If it's true that most people don't have much to say that's interesting, blogging is probably expendable. However, blogging presents the opportunity to interact, develop relationships, and share knowledge.

I think the amount of student engagement in institutions molds them in some way, whether it be political, in the community, or just in the classroom. I'm going to take that theory and run with it. I'm not sure how many fancies it will suit, but I guess we'll see.