At its general assembly meeting Monday night, Black Caucus announced it will hold a town meeting to decide how to raise funds for a new Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

The meeting, which will be open to everyone, will take place at the end of the month in the center, caucus President Nicole Batts said.

She said the caucus and other black campus organizations will push for the renovations, whether it means proposing a student activity fee, targeting black alumni or lobbying in Harrisburg.

The University's request for state funds to build a new Paul Robeson Cultural Center was put on hold last month by the state. Gov. Robert P. Casey did not release the $4.2 million needed to finance construction of the center when he announced funding for other capital projects here.

Batts and other caucus members expressed concern about the need for a serious discussion with committed participants.

"It's important that we start politically developing some action amongst ourselves on this issue," Black Caucus Re-education Committee Head Malcolm Thomas said.

Batts said targeting private donations would be easier than lobbying for state funds because of state budget woes.

She and other members suggested combining the center's fund-raising efforts with those of the HUB expansion to draw more participants.

"Some people might view the Robeson as a building for minorities and would be less likely to contribute," Batts said.

Batts said that although using a student-activity fee -- a flat charge on students' tuition bill that would directly fund student organizations -- to support renovations would be appropriate, the University must first make an active effort in campaigning.

"I would never approve of this project being entirely funded by students," she said.

A referendum asking students whether they approve of a student activity fee will appear on ballots in the upcoming Undergraduate Student Government elections, USG West Halls Senator Mark Stewart said.

Even if funds for both projects are raised together, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center would be built before the HUB expansion, because its construction was approved first, Batts said.

The University's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is asking people to write letters to Casey disapproving of the withholding of funding for the new center.