TL20050307_001 "( (? *"""" Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Monday, 3/7/05 Class links White House, students 5 President's salary subject of report 6 Flashy costumes keep play exciting {Hedwig breaks musical standards Departments Opinion 2 News 5 Campus Calendar. 6 Paw Prints 7 Arts 13 Sound Bites 14 Entertainment Briefs 15 Sports 20 In This Corner. 20 Face-Off. 19 Classifieds 16 Groups dance to charily success TigerTHON increases participation, funds during annual dance marathon in Union Kristi Funderburk The Towerlight In the first year under its new moniker, TigerTHON significantly improved attendance and donation efforts by the end of the annual 12- hour dance marathon. One hundred-thirty dancers and more than 50 spectators turned out for the event in the Potomac Lounge, which began at 7 p.m. Friday and concluded at 7 a.m. Saturday. Last year, only about 50 dancers participated. According to Student Chair Erin Kline, a senior deaf studies major, the amount of money raised for the Johns Hopkins Children Center increased considerably, as well. """"The student participation was out of this world,"""" Kline said. """"We raised $3,000 more than last year - at least $3,000 more."""" The increase, according to event planners, can be attributed to an early start on planning and strong advertising to encourage participation. """"We basically started planning last year,"""" Kline said. """"We contacted all the groups, organizations, athletics, and alumni. We contacted 200 sponsors. It was incredible advertising."""" The four-year- old tradition has proved to be a roller coaster ride in terms of attendance. The first marathon in 2002 - then known as """"Miracles in Motion"""" - boasted more than 250 dancers. Attendance increased to 300 dancers in 2003, then dropped significantly in 2004. Sophomore occupational therapy major Kristen Perry, who was """"The student participation was out of this world. We raised $3,000 more than last year - at least $3,000 more."""" Erin Kline student chair in charge of dancer and volunteer recruitment, described each year as another stepping-stone. """"It was a really good job [this year], but it's something to build upon,"""" she said. """"We set the bar. Now, we need more people to invite their friends and get more student organizations involved."""" Kotaro Watanabe, a senior chemistry major, appreciated the mix of student groups that attended, even if for a short while. The participation of so many groups for one cause was """"beautiful,"""" he said. Watanabe was one of the few 12- hour survivors not associated with any particular group. He had never been to the marathon before, but he thought it was great and was especially appreciative of the one thing not present during the event. """"I liked it because many peo ple were dancing. It was nice too because [the event] was without alcohol,"""" he said. At 2002's marathon, popular theme hours helped students pass the time more quickly, with different premises every hour. The themes returned this year. In addition to dancing, students played games, ran relays and created crafts. Perry said students stayed awake thanks to games of 'Red Light, Green Light' and 'Pass the Orange.' Macaroni necklaces and cards were also made and sent to the children's hospital. Team dances took place earlier in the night when most of the spectators were around to watch. Members of Sigma Gamma Rho performed a step show at the event. Dancers Latasha Peace, Dariya Jackson, Olivia Crosby, Rebecca Middleton, and Ama Owusuwa won a prize for their dance at TigerTHON. The performers are all friends and members of the Black Student Union, Peace said. See BODIES, page 7 Lisa Johnson/The TowerUght Freshman Austin Nusbaum dances Friday night during TigerTHON, a 12-hour marathon that raised money for the Johns Hopkins Children Center. Today High 57 Low 40 Tuesday High 41 Low 21 Wednesday High 38 Low 26 Thursday High 43 Low 28 Friday High 43 Low 24"
