Notice of Online Archive

  • This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.

    For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.

Pi Beta Phi sorority and Kappa Delta Rho fraternity will host the 24th annual Dance Marathon at Kamine Gymnasium in Kirby Sports Center from 5 p.m. today through 5 p.m. tomorrow.

A lip-sync contest and raffle are open to the public for a $2 admission charge. All proceeds will go to Spring Garden Children’s Center and the Children’s Home of Easton. Last year’s event raised $10,000.

The event is co-chaired by seniors Robyn Novick, a psychology major from Westfield, N.J., and Rob Czarnecki, an electrical and computer engineering major and mathematics minor from Hamilton, N.J.

After serving as co-head of Dance Marathon her junior year, Novick became interested in organizing the event because of her great interest in working with and helping children in need.

“I realized that it took a lot of time and dedication to prepare for an event such as this, but all of the hard work pays off in the end because I know we are doing something great for the community,” says Novick. “It is also good to be able to provide a non-alcoholic event that is open for all students at Lafayette to attend.”

Novick is a member of Pi Beta Phi and peer counselor. She was a member of the Lafayette dance team for two years and co-choreographed the dance that won her sorority first place in the lip-sync competition at Dance Marathon in 2001. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling.

A Marquis Scholar, Czarnecki is working on an honors thesis, titled “Adaptive Interference Suppression in Wireless Systems,” under the guidance of Ismail Jouny, professor and head of electrical and computer engineering. A member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, Czarnecki is former president of Inter Fraternity Council, former rush chair and risk manager for Kappa Delta Rho, and has served on the Greek Awards Selection Committee for the past two years.

“I was a committee head for the past two years, and Cliff Michaels ’02, last year’s co-chair, was my roommate at the time, so I have been quite involved with Dance Marathon ever since becoming a part of Kappa Delta Rho,” he says. “This year I again hope we can reach the goal of raising even more money for our charities than in previous years.”

Pi Phi and Kappa Delta Rho members are responsible for collecting donations from students at Lafayette as well as from people in the community. About half of the total donations typically come from Pi Phi and Kappa Delta Rho alumni. Other funds have been donated in past years by local businesses and restaurants, faculty and alumni, and various Lafayette sororities and fraternities. In addition, several local restaurants and businesses contribute food and raffle prizes, respectively.

The schedule of events:

  • Friday, 5-7 p.m. — Performance by Lafayette’s female and male a cappella groups, Cadence and The Chorduroys
  • Friday, 7-9 p.m. — Performance by student cover band “Not Today”
  • Friday, 9-11 p.m. — Performance by student band “Cup of Rye”
  • Friday 11 p.m.-1 p.m. Saturday — Lafayette students guest DJ
  • Saturday, 1-5 p.m. — Raffle prizes and lip-sync contest featuring Lafayette sororities, fraternities, and children from Easton

For more information or to contribute, contact Novick at 610-438-1039 or novickr@lafayette.edu.

Categorized in: Students