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THON Tops $10 million
Photo by Annemarie Mountz '84
Another year, another record.
This year’s THON raised $10,686,924.83 for the Four Diamonds Fund, topping last year’s record and breaking the $10 million mark for the first time.
Encouraging dancers in the final hours: Jay Paterno ’91, who took to the podium on Sunday afternoon.
“If you live to be 100 years old, what you’ve done here for the last two days, weeks, months…what you’ve done here will echo in eternity,” Paterno told the crowd. “When you want to know what Penn State is, and when you want to know what ‘We Are’ means, come to THON.”
For Penn State Live’s photos of THON weekend, click here. Or check out Onward State’s minute-by-minute coverage, with lots of videos and photos from THON, here. And in case you haven’t seen it already, here is the front page of today’s Daily Collegian.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
Getting Pumped for THON
The calm before the storm: The BJC on Thursday afternoon, just before THON preparations begin. Photo from Onward State.
At 6 p.m. today, THON 2012 officially begins in the Bryce Jordan Center, and the students involved don’t seem to need much help getting pumped (search #THON12 on Twitter for proof.)
But after a few dozen hours on their feet, this fun video from the LA Chapter’s Lights. Camera. Cure. might help pep up the crowd when they need it most. We told you about the Hollywood Dance-a-THON a couple of weeks ago—and how it raised over $37,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund. The video from the event, with a few celebrity cameos, will be shown on the big screen at the BJC this weekend.
Follow along with THON 2012 on Twitter: @THONwardstate, @TDC_THON, #THON12
Or check out The Daily Collegian‘s THON blog here or StateCollege.com’s coverage here.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
New Website Pledges Openness
In keeping with President Rod Erickson’s pledge for more open communication in the wake of the Sandusky scandal, Penn State launched a new website: openness.psu.edu.
The site provides information on legal and public relations fees related to the scandal and the investigations, salary contracts for top administrators, and the impact on recruiting, admissions, and fundraising. More than 20 questions are answered—many with exact figures—in the FAQ section.
The university will update the site regularly.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
A Tailgating Tradition
Back in December, I mentioned the flood of emails we’ve been wading through here at The Penn Stater—and that was before our Jan./Feb. issue hit mailboxes and before Joe Paterno passed away nearly three weeks ago. Needless to say, readers have had a lot to say about the tragedy and our coverage.
So I was pleasantly surprised when an email from T.J. Brightman ’91 popped into my inbox the other day. T.J. told us about his son, Parker, who’s a 9-year-old football fanatic. In school, Parker was asked to write a short story about his favorite family tradition. Not only did Parker’s story (and his artistic rendering of Beaver Stadium) give me a much-needed laugh, but it made me a little jealous of Parker’s tailgate spread: Shrimp? Chocolate-chip cookies? Lemon sorbet? “Clearly, Parker loves the amenities of tailgating,” says his dad. “He talks constantly about being a Nittany Lion one day.”
I think you’ll enjoy Parker’s story too. (Click on the images for a closer look.)
Mary Murphy, associate editor
Hooray for Hollywood
The Alumni Association's Tom Hammond '00 snapped this pic when the grand total was revealed.
Less than three weeks before THON 2012 kicks off at the Bryce Jordan Center, the LA chapter of the Alumni Association hosted an abbreviated version of the dance marathon yesterday in Hollywood. Held at the historic Avalon Theater, “Lights. Camera. Cure.” was a six-hour dance party to support the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer. The event raised a total of $37,411.40.
And because no Hollywood party would be complete without a celebrity sighting, Rosey Grier ’56 stopped by—and posed for photos on the pre-show red carpet.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
Joe Paterno: Memorial Service, Guestbook, and Donations
The Centre Daily Times has released an update on funeral arrangements and plans for a memorial service to honor Joe Paterno:
—A public viewing from 1 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on campus.
—A private funeral service for the family at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
—A public memorial service at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center.
In the meantime, there are few ways you can honor Joe Paterno’s memory online:
—Sign the guestbook at the Koch Funeral Home website. Posted last night, the guestbook already tops 67 pages.
—Donate to THON or the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. Directions on how to make a donation in Joe Paterno’s memory are posted on both websites.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
Reflecting on Two Months—and Two Scandals
My mom didn’t get it.
In our phone conversation on Nov. 11, it was clear she didn’t understand the weight of the allegations against Jerry Sandusky, the firing of Joe Paterno, the nuclear fallout that was Penn State in those first few days.
“Imagine this happening at Syracuse,” I said. She instantly understood.
I’m not a Penn Stater. I grew up in central New York, as did most of my family and friends. And while the Sandusky scandal shook me as an employee of the University and writer for The Penn Stater, the feeling was, for the most part, once removed.
I didn’t grow up worshiping Paterno, spending Saturdays in Beaver Stadium, or bleeding blue and white. The only way I could begin to empathize with Penn Staters, and the only way I could convey the crisis to my mother, was to imagine the same scenario rocking the biggest college in our proximity, and my alma mater, Syracuse University.
Exactly one week later, it did. (more…)
The Best of The Penn Stater Blog, 2011
To say the least, 2011 was a year of highs and lows for Penn State—and for our blog. From fun updates on Tina’s travels, celebrity alums, and Penn State sports to the heartbreak and confusion of the Sandusky scandal, this year’s posts ran the gamut. Here’s a look back at the top 10 blog posts (ranked by page views) of 2011:
1. “A Classroom Discussion on the Week’s Events”
In the days after the Sandusky scandal broke, with the University in upheaval, senior editor Lori Shontz ’91 sat in on a SOC 119 class taught by Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey ’94g, who helped students explore the ethical issues behind the crisis—and their own feelings.
Penn State and Nebraska players united in prayer.
2. “They Played a Game, but the Score Barely Mattered”
Lori recaps the Nittany Lions’ emotional loss to Nebraska, which took place at Beaver Stadium just three days after Joe Paterno was fired.
Last May, editor Tina Hay ’83 and a group of Alumni Association travelers explored Turkey. She updated the blog with lots of stories and photos along the way.
4. “A Note on the Sandusky Scandal”
Our first post of many on the scandal and its fallout, written by Tina on the Monday morning after the news broke.
5. “Meet Joe Jonas’ Right-Hand Man”
Former Nittany Lion football player Jason Ganter ’07 tells senior editor Ryan Jones ’95 how he scored the unlikely gig as Joe Jonas’ executive assistant.
On the morning after Joe Paterno and Graham Spanier were ousted, (more…)
Your Letters on the Scandal
As a teenager, I wrote a “Dear Abby” style column for my high-school newspaper. I, the advice guru, would respond to “Stressed Senior” or “Perplexed Prom Date” with a witty, convenient solution to the problem in 300 words or less.
Truth be told, most of the letter writers were my friends, whom I’d convince to detail recent heartbreaks or college-rejection sagas for the student body’s reading pleasure. And my advice was mostly banal—Take a bubble bath! Call a friend!
More interesting, though, was the relief my friends seemed to find in just writing about their feelings. Despite my nagging to do so, expressing their emotions publicly provided a catharsis that even confiding in a best friend during study hall could not.
Today, I’m the letters editor at The Penn Stater. This means I’m responsible for organizing the manageable handful of compliments, criticisms, and occasional corrections we receive for the previous issue, and editing them for print. The methodical process has become an almost-soothing constant in the rushed weeks before deadline.
On Nov. 4, that, like everything else at Penn State, changed. (more…)
Campaign for RAINN Hits $500K Goal
On Nov. 10, a group of Penn State alums launched ProudToBeAPennStater.com, a grassroots effort with two goals: help restore pride to Penn Staters everywhere, and support victims of child sexual abuse by raising $500,000 for RAINN, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network. This morning, the campaign hit $500K. The current total: $500,565.
Also, the autographed helmet for sale on eBay is still up for grabs. Proceeds from the auction, which ends Wednesday, Dec. 7, will go directly to RAINN.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
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