The timing of the rally fell in place with the racist e-mails Penn State students recently received, said Leona Locke, one of the rally's coordinators, but added the rally was not scheduled because of the e-mails.

She and other coordinators worked to invite members of different campus groups and the administration to attend the event.

During his speech, Terrell Jones, vice provost for educational equity, urged the crowd against letting the e-mails change their dreams.

"Character is not built on the fact that people knock you down. Character is built on the fact that you pick yourself back up," Jones said.

University President Graham Spanier offered an apology on behalf of the university to the recipients of the racist e-mails.

"I am very sorry that you were subjected to this hateful and threatening message. We (Penn State) will not tolerate such acts of hostility," Spanier said.

Spanier emphasized the university is working to secure fundamental rights for everyone in the community.

"Dignity, equality and justice should be basic values for Penn State," Spanier said. "Understanding and acceptance are among our main goals."

In addition to addressing the hate e-mail problem, several speakers described Penn State's involvement with diversity issues. Jim Carnes, Penn State Alumni Association president, told the crowd the association has been actively involved with these issues on campus.

"The Alumni Association has been working to foster diversity," he said, adding a "truly great university is a diverse university."

Those in attendance also had the opportunity to interact with each other and the speakers. Sam Richards, professor of Sociology 119 (Race and Ethnic Relations), conducted an experiment with the crowd.

He instructed each person to find someone in the crowd unknown to him, and then told the partners to stare at each other for one minute.

"Look at your partner -- see the humanness in their eyes," Richards said. "You'll see that they are the same as you."

Several members of Sigma Lambda Gamma Colony attended the rally to show support for minority issues.

Attending events such as the rally not only improves community relations, but also helps to bring together the sorority members, who are all of diverse backgrounds, said Alexandra Ramírez, sorority president.

"We came as a group because we felt it was important to support these types of events on campus and make sure our presence is known," Ramírez said.

Locke said the rally was planned after she and several other students attended a retreat at Norfolk State University in Virginia several months ago.

"We felt so welcomed there," Locke said. "It was a great atmosphere, and we wanted to bring something similar to the Penn State community."

Locke added more knowledge and less ignorance must be promoted to create a more unified community.

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