The center contributed to some of the events this month along with different organizations such as the University Office of International Programs.

Though he was hopeful that more people would come out to programs and events in the future, Hannon felt that overall the month was positive and would be very beneficial to the university if things were to improve.

"A lot of programs and speakers touched me and helped me realize I'm on the right path to doing work that positively impacts black people," Black Caucus President LaKeisha Wolf said.

Speakers such as Ramona Afrika have been key in affirming initiatives Black Caucus has been taking, she said.

"I would like to see a more diverse crowd," said Wolf about the attendance of this month's events.

"Though it seems more black people come out in February, I would like to see people come out all year long."

Debyii Thomas, assistant professor in the School of Communications at Howard University and a featured speaker last month, was impressed with student efforts to highlight the "profound accomplishments of neglected and ignored people."

Thomas spoke Monday at the African Consciousness Celebration lecture in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall.

She talked about the need to restore the "village" (based on the African proverb: it takes a whole village to raise a child) by raising consciousness, while letting go of bitterness and grudges that divide the community.

"We do need to have a visible display and affirmation of who we are as a people," Thomas said, ad-ding that she did not think Penn State celebrated Black History Month as much as she would have liked. Compared to her native Washington D.C. area, especially in the churches, the year-long emphasis on black history is lacking at Penn State, she said.

However, some students said they enjoyed the diversity of the month's programs.

"(Speakers) brought in perspectives we have not thought of before," said Ryan Banks, treasurer of Black Caucus.

She felt student organizations were more involved this year in planning events that not only celebrated black history but, as she put it, American history.

Other students said that although they enjoyed the activities, they would like to see the program expanded next year.

"The Black History Month celebration . . . could be larger than it is right now," said Sunny Schumacher (junior-labor and industrial relations). "The university should make more of an effort to make it a school wide celebration."