ISSUE
2, JANUARY 25, 2013
LETTER FROM
PUBLIC RELATIONS CO-CHAIRS Welcome to the second issue of NUDM’s official magazine, The Emcee. This year, we’ve divided this 39-year-old publication and DM tradition into three parts in order to better educate the Northwestern community about why our fundraising is a yearlong effort. The first personal exposure we had with the Danny Did Foundation and Stanton family was in May, when our Executive Board revealed to leaders of their organization that they would be our primary beneficiary. It was also our first exposure to the emotion and passion at the core of Danny Did. This amazing moment of excitement and anticipation was just the beginning of a long journey and partnership. Of course, the greatest inspiration comes from the Danny Did Heroes---those children with the courage to navigate the challenges of epilepsy. We invite you to meet some of the heroes and their families in this issue. We hope their stories inspire you to learn why we dance. The best part about working all year towards one big event is the joy at all the smaller events along the way. We had the opportunity to work with our secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation, at Celebrate Evanston in November. It was enlightening to interact with our neighbors, most of whom told us they had no idea that NUDM was the single largest contributor to ECF, donating more than $600,000 over the past decade. We’ve also been able to incorporate the Danny Did Foundation into our weekly events. Arriving in his full policeman garb, Danny’s father Mike came to Buffalo Wild Wings during a trivia night, at first threatening to “check I.D.s.” After a tense pause, he revealed who he was, and how proud his family was to be a part of NUDM. We hope these experiences can connect you to DM and inspire you to fundraise and get involved on a deeper level. We also hope this magazine can continue to educate you, whether it’s how to prepare to dance, a lesson about seizure safety, a look back at our roots, or personal stories of the people you will be directly helping. Enjoy this installment of The Emcee, and look for the next one launching with ever-more helpful Dance Marathon information on March 1. Danny Did and you can too, David Harris and Katie Prentiss NUDM Public Relations Co-Chairs
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 09 SEIZURE SAFETY
01 HERE COMES THE SUN: DM TRADITIONS
09 THE SECOND THIRD OF DM
02 DM TAKES IT BACK TO THE BEGINNING
10 CALORIES BURNT
03 DM STYLES
10 QUIZ
04 HOUR CLUBS
11 TRIVIA
05 HALF MONEY DEADLINE
11 VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY
06
12 HOLIDAY PARTY RECAP
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT
07-08 DANNY DID HEROES
13 DM CHECKLIST
THE EMCEE Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Kalyn Kahler Design Editor Noor Hasan Copy Editor Nikki Adler Design & Marketing Vicki Wang
Writing Staff: Alyssa Clough Summer Delaney Clara Grayhack Laynie Held Sofi King Ally Mutnick Kate Nettenstrom Jordan Prindle Jillian Sandler Preetisha Sen Tanvi Subramanian Amy Xu Lily Goldstein Alex Tom
Design and Photo Staff: Tosten Burks Blair Drossner Zachary Elvove Ross Gordon Clara Grayhack Alicia Kranjc Michelle Neider Marissa Pederson Amy Xu
COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF JUSTIN BARBIN
HERE COMES THE SUN: DM TRADITIONS THROUGH THE YEARS
SUMMER DELANEY If you ask any Northwestern student what their favorite NU memory is, more likely than not their answer will be Dance Marathon. In its 39 years of existence, the event has transformed from a Homecoming weekend partner dance contest in a Blomquist gym to a 30-hour marathon behind Norris that shuts down campus for a weekend every March. While most people love DM and the life-changing rollercoaster of emotions it brings, it is much more than just a Northwestern tradition. In fact, it’s traditions on traditions on traditions. Here are some of those annual occurrences that motivate students every year to once again lace up their sneakers and spend 30 hours in a tent.
30-Hour Dance From “HEY” by 3OH!3 to “International Love,” the 30-Hour Dance is a unifying experience to all dancers regardless of dorm or group affiliation. Every year, members of the Dancer Relations committee teach segments of choreography to a specific song throughout all 10 blocks. Before the total is released, the whole song plays and all dancers and committee members perform the finished masterpiece with every last ounce of energy they have. Dancers are never able to listen to the year’s selected song without breaking out into the synchronized movements ever again.
The 6:45 AM run-around Norris Since at least 2009, the tradition of running around the tent after Block four has become a staple that signifies that a new day of dancing has begun. At around 6:45 a.m. dancers are ushered out of the North side of the tent and run around the perimeter to greet a new day and wake-up after dancing the night away. This is the last opportunity for any dancers to escape DM by running away across the Lakefill (jailbreaks have occurred in years past). It is also the first and only chance to see sunlight during the 30-hour marathon.
The Marching Band Wake-Up Call After the adrenaline has worn off from the morning jog, dancers sit eating breakfast while the Northwestern University Marching Band acts as their alarm. In addition to NUMB’s ear-blasting performance, other dance and music groups take the stage while dancers try to stay awake through breakfast.
DM Karaoke Every block or so, iconic songs are chosen and lyrics are shown on the DM monitors for dancers to sing along to. From “American Pie” to “500 Miles”, whenever these classics come on the whole tent is filled with the sound of voices jamming out to these popular tunes, jumping up-and-down and creating a Sandstorm mosh-pit environment.
Three Songs at Sunrise At the end of Block four, the sun rises and three songs play in the same order each year: “Here Comes The Sun”, “Piano Man” and “Seasons of Love”. These songs remind everyone that they chose to dance for a reason, not just to add another philanthropic event to add on a résume. At the end of the night where people are at their lowest of lows and not ready to face a new day, the songs give people the strength and hope to greet what is to come. “All the students start to realize why they are doing this and that they are actually making an impact,” Maura Brannigan, the DM 2012 Public Relations cochair, commented about the song sequence. “All of the money they’ve raised leading up to the actual event is really going to make a difference; it’s the first time that all thousand students really see the impact that DM has in their lives and the lives of other people.”
DM TAKES IT BACK TO THE BEGINNING JILLIAN SANDLER
A dancer from the ‘75 Dance Marathon shows off her moves.
The poster advertising for first DM, “Dance to give them a chance.”
Dance Marathon always goes far into the night, but in 2013, it will also go far back to its roots. Dancers and committee members will be raising money for epilepsy research, just as those who started the legacy of DM in 1975 did 38 years ago. Proceeds from this year’s marathon will benefit The Danny Did Foundation, which funds research and development of medical equipment to be used in treating epilepsy, while the event in 1975 benefitted the Epilepsy Foundation of American and the National Association of Retarded Citizens. Jac Hay, who graduated from the University of Maryland in 1972, started the first dance marathon in the country at his alma mater. He also was the first national youth coordinator for the Epilepsy Foundation of America and spent four years traveling around the country setting up dance marathons, including the one at Northwestern. He said epilepsy often slipped under the radar of public awareness at the time of the first DM at NU. “People did stuff for cancer, they did stuff for muscular dystrophy … but no one really cared about epilepsy,” Hay said. Hay said DM lived off the mantra E=MC², which he said stood for “enthusiasm = more cash.” “We just tried to make it more contagious,” Hay said of the event. Our DM has come a long way since 1975. The inaugural event, which was run by Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and held in Blomquist Gymnasium, lasted 52 hours. It raised just over 10,000 dollars and included around 30 dancer pairs. The idea to hold a marathon was spurred by NU alumna Jan Jacobowitz (Communication ’76) after she danced in the dance marathon at the University of Illinois in 1974. Jacobowitz said she started working with then-As-
Students help decorate for the first DM.
sociated Student Government Vice President Tim Rivelli (WCAS ’76) to put the marathon into motion. Rivelli, a member of ATO, then got his brothers involved in the planning. “We saw it as an excellent way to bring students together for a good cause,” Rivelli said. NU alumnus Roy Elvove (BSJ ’75, MSJ ’76), a brother of ATO, was an integral part of handling public relations for the event and obtaining media coverage. Bill Buell (WCAS ’76), also an ATO member, brought in local acts to perform, including Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon. Frank Sinatra Jr. was also present during the opening ceremony of the marathon, Elvove said. The University supported the effort to put the event together, Rivelli said, though he admitted there were kinks present in the organization process as everything got off the ground. “When you put something together like this the first year, obviously we learned a lot from it. I’m sure the next year it was done, we were better able to put the pieces together.” Jacobowitz, who attended last year’s event, said she did not expect DM to evolve into something so large in scale. “You have to understand from my perspective this was this little idea that I thought was awesome,” she said. Rivelli said the evolution of the event has been a source of pride for his alma mater. “It’s pretty incredible to see what it’s grown into,” he said. “It makes me proud to be a Wildcat.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NU ARCHIVES
DANCE MARATHON STYLES THROUGH THE AGES TANVI SUBRAMANIAN
From ‘jorts’ and tiny basketball shorts from the eighties, to head to toe neon frat tanks and spandex shorts, Dance Marathon style has changed over the decades. Check out how the DM uniform has changed throughout the year as The Emcee takes you on a trip inside the DM time machine!
THEN
NOW
Traditionally, when an emotional song comes on, everyone gets in a circle and sings along, like in this photo from DM 1974.
Some things never change. Dancers from DM 2012 singing and hugging, probably to the song “Wonderwall.”
A crowd forms around this dancer, bustin’ out his moves in short shorts for NUDM 1978.
Many dancers, including our 2012 emcees, love to wear colored knee socks to DM, although athletic shorts are more common than jeans or jorts in the sweaty tent.
This dancer, at DM 1978, is rocking an old style hat, along with a serious beard. Since when was DM in No-Shave November?
Even now, our outfits don’t really make sense at DM. But we have fun with them, and love to dress up for all of the themed blocks!!!
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NU ARCHIVES
BLOCK TALK KATE NETTENSTROM If you could create your own block, what would be your ideal block theme?
Aidan Hoie Sophomore 30-Hour Club
Brian Carlisle Junior 60-Hour Club
“Space Jam block. I could wear comfy clothes and the music would be awesome.”
“Definitely a Kanye West block. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Samir Datta Junior 90-Hour Club
“Something with a lot of variety. I love the blocks with a lot of nostalgia. For me it would have to be a nineties block.”
Kam Dodge Senior 120-Hour Club “It would be “May I have this grind?” with “Turn Me On” by Kevin Little. Ideally it would be a lock-down block theme. It would be hilarious with great music and I feel like everyone would get really into the dancing.”
WE DOUBLE-DOG DARE YOU TO DANCE First, follow this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR45Keq5yWk&feature=BFa&list=PL221ACDE727BACB6C) and laugh until you cry. Next, take cues from the rockstars in the video, grab your camera and find an unsuspecting victim to boogie with. Send your videos to productions@nudm.org and enter to be a part of the DM viral campaign! If your video is selected, you will forever remain in history a fearless celebrity. This is a great precursor to the big weekend and a great way to Dance for Danny. Join us in harassing people with our sizzlin’ dance moves--but don’t get caught!!
TAKE YOUR FUNDRAISING TO THE NEXT LEVEL SOFIA KING We are little over a month away from Dance Marathon, and it’s time for that last push in fundraising. While it may seem impossible to raise the final $200, these easy tips are sure to help you earn those last bucks. Already at $400, why not keep going? The money is for a great cause that could even get you some longer foot rubs, bathroom breaks, and even a song request!
1. Canning - It’s not too late to grab those attractive yellow bibs and hit the streets of Evanston and Chicago to ask strangers for money. The upcoming canning dates are: Feb. 9 – Evanston, Feb. 16- Skokie, Feb. 23- Chicago, March 2Evanston. Also, don’t forget to show your purple pride by canning at Northwestern basketball games! 2. Letters - Send out letters to your grandma, uncle in Canada, weird cat-loving neighbor, your dad’s coworkers, and the parents of the children you babysit. DM has even provided a helpful letter template to get you started that can be found on the DM website under the Dancers/Fundraising headings. Here are some ideas to help personalize your letter: a. Discuss your favorite DM memory- Whether it is the orange and yellow balloons dropping at sunrise or dancing with the heroes of the primary beneficiary, showing that you have been so involved will encourage people to support you. b. Describe any of the DM special events you have attended such as meeting the heroes at the Christmas party or Iowa basketball game, or participating in trivia nights. c. If the recipient is a Northwestern Alum, appeal to his or her sense of nostalgia and remind them of their time at Northwestern. d. Mention the recipient’s favorite dance moves, and promise to incorporate them as least once into your own dancing during DM. 3. Valentine’s Day - Holidays are one of the best ways to fundraise. You could bake heart- shaped cookies and sell them to your friends or, if singing is your thing, offer to serenade your friend’s special someone (for a small fee, of course).
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT:
PRODUCTIONS COMMITTEE ALYSSA CLOUGH We all know that Dance Marathon raises truly unbelievable amounts of money for amazing charities each and every year, but what you might not know is that this year there is a big push to make both the organization and weekend more sustainable. While ‘going green’ is not a new phenomenon, The Emcee was able to catch up with the Productions co-chairs Jas Baziuk and Sam Palley to learn how their committee is making a difference. The productions team works hard, handling the logistics of the weekend of DM, the tent, lights, videos, music, and the creation of the 30 hour minute-by-minute schedule. Basically, they are the people that make the actual event we call DM possible. On working with the Northwestern Office of Sustainability, Palley explains how the team is trying to make DM more energy efficient. “One of the things we are hopefully going to work out with them [The Office of Sustainability] is the purchasing of carbon offsets, to offset the electricity usage, so that we can ultimately have a carbon neutral event.” This would make it the first time in DM history that in addition to having zero carbon footprint, there will be the measuring of the amount of electricity used throughout the weekend. Baziuk emphasized the importance of these statistics, because knowing how much electricity is used this year will help the team monitor, and minimize, the usage in the future.
HOW PRODUCTIONS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Working with Norris to have an equal ratio of trash cans and recycle bins in the tent. 2) Having the Emcees encourage dancers to recycle while in the tent. 3) While cleaning the tent between blocks, making sure to recy cle the bottles found on the floor. 1)
MEET THE HEROES CLARA GRAYHACK Meet Quinn and Will. For Tom Nugent, running the Chicago Marathon was about raising money for the Danny Did Foundation. His motivation: his two youngest sons. Mary and Tom Nugent’s sons Quinn, 15, and Will, 10, both have epilepsy. The seizures brought on by epilepsy have been part of their family for 15 years. With the Danny Did Foundation’s support, the Nugents have learned even more about dealing with epilepsy. “It’s a family-tainting, life-changing illness. It affects everyone in the family and everyone around us,” Mary said. Quinn had a few seizures at a young age but had one that was over 40 minutes long in fourth grade. After that, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. Right now, he has gone a little over a year without having a seizure while on medication. Will, on the other hand, has a more severe form of epilepsy that includes some autistic tendencies. He has never spoken a word and has seizures, including many small ones in forms such as eye blinks. “By the time he was nine months old, he was having hundreds and hundreds of seizures a day,” Mary said. “It was constant seizure activity.” They have tried many medications and special diets for Will with little avail. Doctors also placed a nerve stimulator in his chest to see if they could stop the seizures. Finally, 13 months ago, Will underwent surgery to split his brain hemispheres by severing the corpus callosum, which has helped control his seizure activity. Now he has full-blown seizures only once or twice a month. “It’s heartbreaking,” Mary said. “It’s the hardest thing to ever have to watch. I’ve seen them have seizures hundreds of times in the past 15 years, and it just wrenches your soul. You just stand there and try to protect them and just tell them I’m there.” Tom stumbled across the Danny Did Foundation while he looked for a group to run the marathon for, and since then, the Nugents have gained a lot from their involvement with Danny Did. “It’s given us knowledge,” Mary said. “It’s given us kind of a voice to just to stand up and talk to people about epilepsy. I wear my Danny Did Foundation pin, and people say, ‘Oh what is that for?’” The Danny Did Foundation also helped clear up some misconceptions for the Nugents. Mary thought, for example, that the safest place for her boys to have a seizure was in their sleep, she said. However, she realized that wasn’t true after hearing Danny’s story of how he died from a seizure while sleeping. “I think it’s such a meaningful thing that they’re doing because before the Danny Did Foundation we were never told that a person could die from having a seizure,” Mary said. It has also helped bring them together with people who cope with epilepsy and who want to help inform others. “It’s nice to be part of a group that is working toward doing something about it,” Mary said. Even after years of dealing with epilepsy, the Nugents still need the kind of support and understanding that the Danny Did Foundation provides. “The pain you feel every time it happens, it never goes away,” Mary said.
BEHIND DANNY DID Meet Belicia. For 15-year-old Belicia Espinal, freedom is coming. A little over a week ago, she found out that the Danny Did Foundation will provide her with a SmartWatch. The SmartWatch is a seizure detection device can send out a text or phone call with her GPS location to her mother if Belicia has a seizure. “When I put that watch on, that’s my key to freedom,” Belicia said. She is looking forward being able to do to the simple things that other teenagers can do. She said she wants to go to the movies, hang out downtown with friends, have her own room, take the train into Chicago alone, have sleepovers and go to the library. Belicia has coped with epilepsy since she was diagnosed in 2006. She had brain surgery when she was three because of a rupture, which left scar tissue. Her doctors believe the surgery contributed to the development of her epilepsy. Belicia is a straight-A student who has attended summer sessions at Loyola University of Chicago and hopes to go to college there someday. “She’s taking advantage of all the opportunities come her way, but it’s so hard to tell her no sometimes because I worry for her safety,” her mother, Belinda Luna said. “She’s 15, she should enjoy her life.” But these accomplishments are tainted by nerves. “Things that we should be happy about, a lot of them bring anxiety, and they just make me ill,” Belinda said. Belinda remembers the first time she saw her daughter have a seizure. That night, Belicia decided to sleep in her mother’s bed. When Belinda woke up next to her daughter, Belicia was in the middle of a seizure. “As a mom, that was just the worst feeling I ever had when you can’t help your own child,” Belinda said. Belicia has taken medication to control her seizures on-and-off since she was diagnosed. She was seizure-free for two years at one point and went off her medication for a while during that time. However, her seizures kicked in again, and she is now taking two medications. After managing the seizures for the last few years, Belinda knows the drill if one starts, but that doesn’t make it easy. “It’s sad that you have to get used to something like that, but I know what to do,” Belinda said. “You learn what you have to do and you do it.” Her seizures are still unpredictable in many ways, and Belinda has had to keep track of where her daughter is at all times. “It’s a constant fear if she takes the train, where would she be if she has a seizure?” Belinda said. Belicia has to text her mother when she gets to school and walk home the same exact way every day so her mom knows where she is. Before hearing about the Danny Did Foundation, Belinda was looking for other options to keep Belicia safe. The doctors did not seem to have more ideas, but knowing seizures can be dangerous, even fatal, Belinda constantly has worried about her daughter. With the Danny Did Foundation helping her, Belinda has discovered seizure devices that could keep Belicia safe and work with her lifestyle. One of the options that the Danny Did Foundation told Belicia about was the SmartWatch. She hopes it will bring her daughter the independence she craves and allow her to reach her dreams. The Danny Did Foundation is supporting the family in every way and bringing them a sense of hope and relief.
10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EPILEPSY HISTORY AND TREATMENT
ALLY MUTNICK 1. Julius Caesar, Vincent Van Gogh, Napoleon and Joan of Arc were all rumored to have had epilepsy. 2. In 400 B.C. the Greek physician Hippocrates wrote “On the Sacred Disease,” the first known book on epilepsy. He described it as a brain disorder—not the ability to make prophecies, as was the myth at the time. 3. If you see someone having a seizure, help him or her lie down on the ground on their side, away from furniture. Do not try to hold the person down or put anything in their mouth. 4. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that 65 million people have epilepsy worldwide. 5. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits all states from discriminating against people with epilepsy. Before this law, some U.S. states banned people with epilepsy from getting married or having children. 6. We only know what causes epilepsy in 30 percent of all cases. The causes of the other 70 percent are undetermined. 7. The official color for Epilepsy Awareness Month is lavender. 8. Everyone has a seizure threshold, which specifies the level of stimulation that causes the brain to have a seizure. Those with epilepsy just have a lower threshold. 9. There are many different drugs available to treat epilepsy, but not all of them work for everyone. More research is needed to successfully treat all affected with epilepsy. 10. The epilepsy myth that you can swallow your own tongue during a seizure is not true. It is impossible to swallow your tongue.
THE SECOND THIRD OF DM WEEKEND JORDAN PRINDLE And Through the Darkness Comes Light, and a Little George Harrison It’s 4 o’clock Saturday morning and you’re not in the library studying for finals. Instead, you just pulled your easiest all-nighter of the quarter! You’ve been rockin’ out with your friends, eatin’ Gushers and PB&J, and finally gettin’ to show off your plethora of neon frat hats—life is good! But as the hours roll on, your energy is beginning to wane, your techno jumps are becoming more of a hobble, and your fist pumps look more like a lame attempt at swatting flies. You need a turn around, an energizer. Sounds like the perfect time…for sunrise. Ahh sunrise, the most serene, rejuvenating moment of DM. It’s beautiful. You’ve officially made it through the night. The day is new. Your NUMB alarm clock goes off. Breakfast is served. Visitors arrive. Then suddenly, “Out! Out! Out!” Dancer Relations is sending you outside in the cold for the annual lap around the tent! You’re hesitant at first, but once you step outside, the blast of fresh air and excitement give you the burst of energy you need. Back in the tent, your feet are actually lifting off the ground again and your fist pumping would make even ‘The Situation’ proud! You’re back! And ready for the hours ahead! With the new day comes more stories from beneficiaries, well wishes from celebrities, and even appearances from our man Morty. The little balls of energy that are the ambassadors bring joy and encouragement, and of course show off their moves. You soak it all in, realizing that you have surpassed the halfway point. And although all you want now is that 30-second foot rub, you could not be more proud and excited for what you are doing.
THIRTY HOURS OF DANCING: THE BEST WORKOUT OF YOUR LIFE
ALEX TOM Ever wonder how much exercise you are getting from dancing for thirty hours straight? In order to determine how many calories are burned during Dance Marathon, The Emcee created a formula including the amount of food an average dancer consumes and the calories burned throughout the 30 hours of dancing. Since we know that every dancer will break out different dance moves throughout the night (and day and night), we compared the calories burned for all the different dance moves you might dream up, such as the running man and mosh-pit jumping. Average calories burned: 9,100 - Total food consumption: 3,730 = 5,370 Calories burned in 1 hour of running man: 540 Calories burned in 1 hour of mosh-pit jumping: 710
WHAT TYPE OF DM SNACKER ARE YOU? AMY XU 1. After your first snack of DM, what are you craving next?
3. After your eating your popsicle, how do you feel?
a) Definitely something healthy – DM has only started! b) Alternating always works great for you, so if it was healthy first snack, you’ll choose something more indulgent later! c) Already ready for some popsicles…
a) Satisfied until the next snack! b) You could definitely eat another one, but you’re happy with one. c) Already on the hunt for the possibility of another…
2. You’ve decided to bring some snacks with you! What are they?
a) Some sort of trail mix or fruit. Bananas or apples work great, as well as almonds mixed with dried fruit and chocolate chips (plus, a piece of fruit can be taken out of the dining halls!) b) You know fruit and granola bars are great options, but you can’t resist sneaking in the occasional bag of potato chips or chocolate bar. c) You know you don’t have the healthiest snacks inside your bag right now, but honestly, all you want to do is eat!
4. What will your first meal be after DM is over?
a) After some much needed sleep, a meal full of carbohydrates and protein is important. b) You’re definitely not looking for a light salad, and wouldn’t mind feeling more than stuffed. c) Cheesies anyone? It’s open until 3 AM on Sundays! 5. What is your choice of beverage during most of DM?
a) Nothing beats good ole’ water. b) Water is great, but you reach for the occasional sports drink to keep your energy up! c) Soda, juice, sports drinks, anything with some flavor.
Mostly A’s: The Health Conscious Snacker Paying attention to what you eat is a big part of helping you stay awake and energized. Fruits and vegetables are a great option for you, since you know too much sugar (though delicious!) will have you crashing later. However, 30 hours is enough to have anybody craving sweets, so don’t be worried to reach for some throughout DM! And even you won’t be able to resist the popsicles! Mostly B’s: The Well-Balanced Snacker You’re most likely to be a happy (and full) camper throughout DM. There are times when you know it’s definitely time to take a break from too much sugar, but other times you know it’s okay to spoil yourself. Being a well-balanced snacker also involves being good with portions, so you know that a giant pile of cookies definitely does not look right next to a few pieces of fruit! Mostly C’s: The Indulgent Snacker These 30 hours are the ultimate food pass: you eat what you want, when you want. And why shouldn’t you? Exhaustion can always temporarily be put to the back of the mind by something delicious and sweet. You would have popsicles twice a block every block if it were your choice, but slices of pizza will do just as well.
THE BEST NIGHT OF THE WEEK LAYNIE HELD Wednesday night is known to some as hump-day or the slowest day of the week. Not anymore. Every Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings, lovingly known as “B-Dubs”, is packed with Dance Marathon-loving students competing against one another for pride and $2000 for their fundraising team. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition for a good cause. Topics vary each week, ranging from Disney to Harry Potter to Holiday Spirit. Preparing beforehand is almost required to get some of the most obscure questions. Know what the word “Kwanzaa” means? How about the official number of Disney Princesses? After each of the five rounds,
the answers are given and the cheers of teams with correct responses can be heard echoing throughout the whole restaurant. At the end of each week, winners are announced and teams begin preparing strategies for the next week. Win or lose, hot wings and onion rings are ordered throughout the night to celebrate. So, who comes to DM trivia? All the cool kids. It’s easy and fun. Grab a group of friends from your dancer group or friends who are trivia buffs and bring them down to B-Dubs. For only $5, you can participate in one of the best and most popular DM traditions. Not only is trivia more fun than doing homework, but it is easily the most productive and valuable procrastination tool that has ever existed. Whether you get zero questions right or go thirty for thirty, fun is guaranteed. According to long time trivia-goer and Special Events committee member, Emily Blumberg, “ DM trivia brings all different dancer groups together to have fun in the name of a great cause… at the end of the night we can all go our separate ways knowing we contributed to something worthwhile.” So what are you waiting for? See you next Wednesday; bring on the competition.
MEET THE DANNY DID SWEETHEARTS AT THE VALENTINE’S PARTY
PREETISHA SEN Get into the holiday spirit by celebrating Valentine’s Day with Dance Marathon! On Thursday, Feb.17 in the Northwestern Room at Norris, Dancer Relations will host a Valentine’s Day party for students and the Danny Did heroes who will benefit from DM this year. The kids come to the parties with their families and have the chance to meet and interact with the dancers. The parties are always a lot of fun, and are a great way to get pumped for DM and interact with kids who benefit from our yearlong fundraising and 30 hours of dancing. Dancer Relations co-chairs Alex Matelski and Ashley Thompson hope this event will be similar to the Holiday Party that they held in December, which featured activities like making holiday treats and watching a theatre performance. “All of them making gingerbread houses just warmed my little heart,” Matelski said. One of the co-chairs’ favorite groups from the Holiday Party was Griffin’s Tale, which is a Northwestern children’s theatre company. For the December holiday party, Griffin’s Tale
Dance Marathon Valentine’s Day Party: *February 17 *Northwestern Room
took stories that students at local area schools wrote and created 5-10 minute performances. When talking about the Valentine’s Day party, Matelski says it will be “similar to the holiday party but bigger and better.” For this quarter’s party, the co-chairs plan to use a lot of sugar and pink decorations to get both the kids and dancers excited for DM. Additionally, the kids will be making a sign that will go outside the DM tent. Overall, both co-chairs believe that while DM itself is a great experience, these events make it even more meaningful because the dancers get to meet the kids. “It’s not you’re young and I’m old, it’s not you’re sick and I’m healthy, it’s just us,” Thompson said. “It’s a reminder for why they dance. All this work and all this effort really goes to something tangible,” Matelski said.
DM HOLIDAY PARTY RECAP
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONISHA APPALARAJU
EMCEE PHOTO CONTEST WINNER! Thank you for all of your submissions! Congrats to the winner, Alan Wong for this awesome picture! You will receive $50 towards your NUDM Total!
DM CHECKLIST N H OOR
JANUARY
ASAN
February 23: Canning in Chicago
January 23: Half-money deadline February 25: NU Athletics Talent Show! January 30: Harry Potter Trivia
FEBRUARY February 2: Top Chef
February 6: Sports Trivia
February 27: FULL MONEY DEADLINE
February 27: NUDM, Danny Did, NU Trivia
February 28: Battle of the DJs
MARCH
February 9: Canning in Evanston
February 13: Mixology Trivia
February 16: Canning in Skokie
February 17: Valentine’s Party
February 20: America Trivia
February 21: Battle of the Bands
March 2: Canning in Evanston
March 8: Arrive to DM a couple of hours early. March 8-10: Dance for 30 HOURS STRAIGHT! March 10: Congratulations completing Dance Marathon! You can sleep now!
TOP CHEF February 2 Norris Center
First place winners to receive $500 for their DM team. Sign up today at nudm.org