A discussion-oriented meeting last night saw the University Student Advisory Board talk about the University's new smoking policy and the ramifications of the visiting social scientists' report, which was released last week.

Melvyn S. Klein, director of unions and student activities, visited USAB last night to discuss exceptions to the new policy concerning the ground floor of the HUB. Klein noted that the policy, which will prohibit smoking in University buildings except where specifically permitted, will go into effect April 3 even without the signs the University had ordered to implement the policy.

Klein said until a decision is reached about smoking on the HUB's ground floor, the entire building will be designated non-smoking. Klein visited USAB in January to receive the board's input on smoking in the HUB, and Klein and the board reached a consensus that half of the ground floor should be smoking, half of it non-smoking.

"All the requests for variances from the policy have not been acted upon," Klein said. "Until the request is reviewed, there will be no smoking areas in the HUB."

Adding that he is confident the variance will be granted "because it is a reasonable request," Klein said he does not know when the Smoking Policy Review Committee will review the request, but said he expects the decision within two weeks.

In other USAB business, the board discussed the report made by a team of social scientists who visited the University last December to observe the racial climate at Penn State.

Council of Commonwealth Student Governments Coordinator Tony Bottino called the report "a little too broad and vague" and said it seemed the scientists "had a lack of understanding of how our University was set up."

"(The report) was like an English 202 paper, and not a very good one at that," Bottino said. "It didn't seem as in-depth and organized as it should have been."

"The report only treats people as if they fall into certain categories," said Lesbian/Gay Student Alliance Secretary Brian McKernan, who said the report did not deal with lesbian and gay male issues.

University officials agreed to the visit by the social scientists after last April's sit-in at the Telecommunications Building at which students protested what they termed the University's indifference to minority affairs.

The social scientists returned to the University last weekend after students expressed concern that the first visit was not representative of the racial climate here because it occurred during finals week. The scientists will file a second report sometime next month.

Though adviser Craig A. Millar suggested the board become involved in backing other students, USAB did not make any recommendations toward the social scientists' report.

"USAB would be more effective if (University President Bryce Jordan) saw other student leaders working for students not in their constituencies," McKernan said.