Demonstrations of the community's concern with racism and racial injustice continued over the weekend as black students and University administrators showed their intolerance for racism.

About 250 black students gradually filled a section of the bleachers in Rec Hall an hour before Penn State's basketball game against St. Bonaventure Saturday afternoon.

In a show of solidarity, the students stood and joined their hands above their head as they sang the "Black National Anthem". Some students read the words off sheets of paper.

"Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us," they sang.

The crowd of 4,388 was quiet during the song but afterwards applauded as the blacks added their applause.

At that point a statement condemning racism was read over the public address system and met again with the black community's applause. The group quieted as the reading ended with a request that the crowd "keep the spirit of brotherhood alive not only during black history month but throughout the entire year."

The students stood in silence during the U.S. National Anthem -- hands again joined above their heads.

As the players were introduced the group chanted, "Racism has no place at Penn State" and slowly filed out of the building. The group then headed to the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, where they held a closed meeting for about an hour.

The students maintained their commitment to the community and refused to speak individually about the group's actions. The meeting broke into several smaller meetings, after which a few of the students presented the group's statement for the day.

"Our actions of today in conjunction with the actions of this past week are designed to heighten the community's awareness of our intolerance of racism and ethnic intimidation. We seek to garner the support of all students, faculty, staff, and townspeople of moral conscience to stand with us as we oppose racism by educating themselves and each other about racism and racial injustice," said a spokeswoman, who refused to give her name.

More racial incidents occurred this weekend including an alleged assault on a black women by a white male outside Hartranft Hall Friday night. The University has posted composites of the suspect in residence halls and other buildings on campus.

In an effort to fight racism, about 25 administrators, borough and county government representatives, and a state legislator held an outdoor news conference Friday at the foot of the Mall on College Avenue.

The group hung a banner stating,"United Against Racism" to show the unity of the community and the University in the fight against racial intolerance.

Pa. Rep. Lynn B. Herman, R-Centre said, "Slogans are only as good as the people behind them. It's very important that we eradicate (racism) before it can send the wrong type of message to the people of Pennsylvania."

The news conference was one of the measures taken by the University as a reaction to recent racial incidents.

Last weekend five black women were allegedly accosted by 10 white men early Sunday morning and racial flyers deriding Undergraduate Student Government president Seth Williams were found in numerous locations on campus and downtown Monday morning.

The week that followed included a number of demonstrations in which the black students showed the community their intolerance of racism.

At about 4 Friday afternoon black students began arriving at Shields Building and joined the line, requesting unofficial transcripts and financial aid forms. In forty-five minutes the group's size had grown to about 100.

"It was legal business during legal business hours," said Williams, USG president.

A few minutes after 5 p.m., scheduled closing time for the building, the students exited, many boarding the Campus Loop to return to their homes.

Students continued to remain silent to the press, saying they must not speak inaccurately for the community.

The fight against racism continued last night. During the last ten minutes of the Interfraternity Council Dance Marathon last night Overall Marathon Chairman Jonathon Ferrara addressed condemning racial injustice.

"The issue of racism and racial injustice is not black versus white, but racism against all people and anybody can be the perpetrator of this racism," he said.

The dance marathon benefits children with cancer and their families by providing money for treatment. Ferrara emphasized the importance of that adding,"why don't we make a difference in our lives and stop racism?"

Ferrara's statements met with loud applause from the crowd.

University students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to show their desire for racial justice when University groups sponsor a rally in front of Old Main.

"Speak Out Against Racism" will feature community leaders speaking for an hour at noon tomorrow.