It looked like a family picnic.

About 200 University administrators, staff, faculty, students and community leaders participated in Encampment 1993 yesterday at Stone Valley Recreation Area, where they ate, played games and discussed campus and community issues on an equal level.

The lines between student and professional blurred as normally suit-and-tie administrators, such as University President Joab Thomas, threw horseshoes and played volleyball. The picnic events were only side activities to the dialogue among the participants.

Encampment has been held every fall for over 40 years to bring student, University and State College representatives into contact with each other. This year the event was enhanced by the attendance of student leaders whose groups were not previously invited, said encampment student Tri-chairman Gerard Louison.

"The average, the more general student leader," as well as student political leaders, were invited to give their insight, Louison said. "It's an informed opinion that students here today are giving the administrators," he said.

Among the first-year attendees were representatives from the Newman Center, Circle-K, Black Graduate Student Association, Women's Chorus, Glee Club, Latino Caucus and Puerto Rican Student Association.

This year's topic, improving community quality, was discussed by keynote speaker Faith Wohl, vice president of work force partnering for DuPont Industries, and closing speaker Marian U. Coppersmith Fredman, University Board of Trustees member and president of Barash Advertising Inc. A community development session featuring cooperation activities and games was offered by Shavers Creek Environmental Center. But it was in the informal discussions that participants actively addressed shared concerns and issues.

Bruce Ellis, acting director of minority admissions and community affairs, found the discussions worthwhile.

"It does give you faith that a diverse group around the campus are willing to sit down and rub elbows with a variety of people," Ellis said.

The morning discussion session explored teaching and learning, and the afternoon program addressed learning beyond the classroom.

Participants were assigned to discussion groups where they shared their feelings about subjects such as class size, faculty research, alcohol abuse and the stadium keg ban. Many were pleased with the chance to express their views and hear the differing opinions of others.

"I think it was very important that we did voice our opinion," said Carina Defferrire, Latino Caucus president. "A lot can get accomplished because of this day," she said.

Director of Career Development and Placement Services Jack Rayman has attended several encampments and said the comfortable, informal situation results in enlightening conversations he enjoys.

"I like to mostly listen, and taking to heart what I hear," Rayman said.

Creating an open dialogue, rather than trying to change or form policies, was the purpose of encampment.

"It's a time to bring ideas forward," student Tri-chairman Mike Sophy said.

Although the communication achieved yesterday was appreciated by many, some felt concrete results had yet to be seen.

The issue of diversity is one area Zelia Z. Wiley, Black Graduate Student Association president, said she feels will need to be actively pursued within the University and town. While everyone recognized the need for diversity, "the question is still how and when," she said.

Sally Maud Robertson, co-director of AIDS Project of Centre County, agreed that encampment isn't the solution to all the problems. "I think the frustration is it raises more questions than it answers," she said.

But the participants accomplished an important step in solving problems, student Tri-chairwoman Nicole Ferrise said.

"It's basically a change in yourself, to look at things differently," Ferrise said.