Motivational speeches and step-shows helped reaffirm the belief that "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste" for about 40 University students in the HUB Assembly Room Saturday afternoon.

At the third annual benefit for the United Negro College Fund, Black Caucus President Nicole Batts said reaffirming a black person's ethnicity does not mean sacrificing grades for political activity.

"We must reaffirm our blackness educationally," she said.

African-American students in particular must study twice as hard to understand their backgrounds, Batts said, because many University classes presuppose a student is of European descent.

Eric Bigelow, Black Caucus assistant vice president, urged black Greek organizations to put their differences aside and focus on their common link as people of African descent.

"We need to look past our organizations -- the colors, the ignorance -- and support and love one another," said Bigelow, a member of Groove Phi Groove social fellowship.

Bigelow compared the disunity of Greek organizations to that of gangs in Los Angeles who fight because of the colors they wear.

"For the sake of our precious colors, we have fought, argued and disrespected each other," he said.

Program Coordinator Deven A. Price said he wanted the event to be both educational and entertaining for the cause.

"Our goal is to be able to send one person to school," Price said. "The program gets better every year."

The program was sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, 127-129 E. Irvine Ave. The State College High School drill team, the United Soul Ensemble and black sororities and fraternities also contributed.