Greeks choose tentative date for Pitt Dance Marathon

The Greeks have chosen a tentative date for the Pitt Dance Marathon, which they had to… The Greeks have chosen a tentative date for the Pitt Dance Marathon, which they had to postpone because of last month’s historic snow storm.

The dance marathon, part of the Greek Week effort to raise money for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, will occur April 18 in the Fitzgerald Field House, if Panhellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council receive approval from the administration.

Normally, the event runs for 24 hours, but if it occurs April 18, it will only last six to eight hours. Vanessa Cominsky, who oversees Greek Week, said that when the marathon runs for 24 hours, the organizers reserve the Fitzgerald Field House for three days to allow for setup and cleanup. They decided to reduce the time of the marathon because they could only reserve the field house for one day.

“It’s extremely difficult trying to scramble at the last minute to put together such a large-scale event,” Cominsky said, noting that she and other Pitt Dance Marathon organizers had to work around the athletic schedule.

If the organizers can’t hold the marathon April 18, they will try to hold a different event in which the students can pledge to raise money for the cancer institute. One person proposed having a cookout at the Petersen Events Center, Cominsky said.

The marathon is part of Greek Week. In 2004, the fraternities and Panhellenic sororities agreed to raise $500,000 for the cancer institute over the course of five years. The deadline is at the end of the semester.

The dance marathon cancellation should not affect the pledge. Cominsky said that after talking to the Greek houses, they all agreed to donate the money they pledged for the event even if the Pitt Dance Marathon does not happen.

“We’re trying to do the best we can with the situation we are in,” Cominsky said. “You just can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.”

The Black Action Society originally planned to hold its fashion show during the Pitt Dance Marathon because of scheduling conflicts. Cominsky said the groups will now hold their events separately.

Jahmaiah Lewis, president of BAS, did not respond to phone calls before press time.