Members of the black student community pledged yesterday evening that the protests to end racial intolerance will tentatively cease.

"Because we wish to allow the University time to act on the good intentions which they have expressed, demonstrations have ended for the moment," a spokeswoman said. As part of the community committed to unity, she would not reveal her name.

"We are prepared to resume our public protest if necessary," the group said in a prepared statement. A spokeswoman later added that the re-emergence of protests is under discussion within the community.

The concerned students staged five protests last week in reaction to racial incidents that occurred during the preceding weekend. The morning of Feb. 12 five black women were reportedly accosted by 10 white males. On Feb. 13 racial flyers deriding Undergraduate Student Government President Seth Williams were found on campus.

The protests were designed to increase the community's awareness of the racism at the University, and to compel them to eradicate it, the prepared statement said.

"We are hopeful that each member of the Penn State community will accept responsibility for the creation of a racism free environment. Now is the time for our white peers to begin to educate themselves to the reality of racism," the statement said.

The methods a person uses to eradicate racism is dependent on the individual, a spokesman said, adding that Tuesday's "Speak Out Against Racism" rally is one example.

"We don't need to dictate to any other group how they can stand against racism. Any person by themselves can stand against racism in any way that they see fit," a spokesman said.

Racial incidents continued this weekend when a white male allegedly accosted a black woman. Tuesday morning racial flyers -- in the form of a phony letter written by University President Bryce Jordan addressing racism -- were found in West Halls dorms.

The letter, which included a picture of Jordan, began "Dear Fellow Community Member, dig dis: We be deeply concerned about some numba' o' racial incidents dat gots occurred in our community recently."

The University has expressed its commitment to the ending of racism in the community in a variety of ways. On Feb. 14 Executive Vice President and Provost William C. Richardson signed a statement agreeing to some of the group's demands after 150 students held a sit-in in the HUB Fishbowl.

Last April following a 15-hour sit-in that lead to the arrest of 88 students, the protesters presented a list of demands to the University.

One of the demands called for the investigation of the climate for black students at the University. The investigation took place during finals week last semester and was expanded by the University to include all minorities. Some black student leaders said the scientists did not study an accurate climate because many students had left campus or were studying.

The social scientists will return March 23, 24, and 25 under the direction of the Penn State Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"We feel that the move to bring (the social scientists) back is a step in the right direction, but it is only a beginning and it is by no means an end," a spokesman said.

The demands made by the students are designed to provide "a safe, positive environment in which African-American students can live, learn, and grow," yesterday's statement said.

The students are demanding the creation of an administrative position -- a vice president of Pan-African affairs -- to serve the interests of the black community.

The University began the search for a vice provost for underrepresented groups several weeks ago.

The students said a vice provost for underrepresented groups would be too broad an office to address their specific concerns.

The students emphasized the importance that the position of vice president of Pan-African affairs be a black person.

"A person of African descent can not dictate to a person of Hispanic descent what he or she needs. A person not of our community can not dictate to us what we need," an unnamed spokesman said.

The group also demanded increased financial aid for the out-of-state students who comprise 40 percent of their community. Many black students are forced to leave the University for financial reasons, the spokeswoman said.

Students are demanding the implementation of the Racial Discrimination Eradication Board to deal with cases of racial intolerance. The make-up of the board is still under discussion, but the spokeswoman said it would probably include a mix of students and faculty of the black community.

Other demands include the construction of a new Paul Robeson Cultural Center, and the opening of the University budget to the public. The University requested funding for the new cultural center as part of its capital budget request last fall.