University Harrisburg lobbyist Frank Forni said recent concerns over racial tension at the University would have little effect on budget lobbying efforts.

Forni said most legislators understand the University's commitment to ending racial problems in the wake of the appearance of flyers directed against Undergraduate Student Government President Seth Williams and the harassment of five black women.

But Rep. David Richardson, D-Philadelphia, a member of the state's Legislative Black Caucus, said the University needs to do more to show its commitment to ending apparent racial problems.

Last April, following the arrest of 88 students who conducted a sit-in at the Telecommunications Building, Caucus Chairman Rep. Gordon J. Linton, D-Philadelphia, and Richardson traveled to the University to speak to students and administrators about the campus racial climate.

Richardson said he realized the protests would continue after the immediate problems surrounding April's sit-in.

"I'm very much concerned about the situation. We've tried to work very hard toward ending racism," Richardson said. "We're going to continue to watch this form of racism continue without concrete solutions and implementation."

Forni said the unanimous passage of the University budget for 1988-89 showed that caucus members have faith in Penn State's capability to deal with campus racial problems.

Richardson said the Black Caucus in Harrisburg has discussed problems at the University but has not decided what action to take over University funding because of campus incidents. Last year, the caucus decided they did not need to "send a signal" to the University by opposing the budget, he said.

"It's certainly going to be brought up," Richardson said. "The members are very much concerned." He said members also voiced concerns over incidents such as the recent disciplinary actions against four students involved in protests last semester against CIA recruitment and the administration's reluctance to open the University budget.

"With racial tension and this kind of thing flaring up, the administration needs to have a more sensitive ear toward the bright, intelligent students who have brought out these issues in the first place," Richardson said. "The students have taken some bold stands and proposed possible solutions and directions that the University should adhere to."

A University environment should inspire positive attitudes toward the history of ethnic groups and encourage discussions that would help people in the community deal with tensions, Richardson said.

"We have to try to get them to sit down and talk -- for the prestige of the great citadel of learning called Penn State -- to deal with the problem, rather than sweeping it under the rug and hoping it goes away by itself," Richardson said.

Richardson suggested two specific means discussed by the caucus through which the University administration could show its commitment to ending problems of racism.

First, the University could ask the Pennsylvania State Police to aid in the investigation.

Second, he said, parents of black students attending the University should be invited to University Park to discuss their concerns with Penn State officials. "Parents are not being properly informed about this and (they) are becoming upset," he said.

University Public Information Director Bill Mahon said University Police Services has already contacted state police at Rockview and Hollidaysburg as well as the U.S. Justice Department, the Human Relations Commission and the Anti-Defamation League.

Plans are also underway for a program to reassure concerned parents of black students about the safety of their children, Mahon said. Details will be released later this week.

Richardson attributed recent problems at the University to tensions that have increased on college campuses nationwide and expressed hope that university presidents around the country would organize toward eradicating racism.