No matter who wins, leaders of campus minority student groups want newly elected Undergraduate Student Government representatives to uphold proposed initiatives to foster diversity on campus after tomorrow's election.

"I just hope that. . .whatever they're deciding, they actually go through with it," said Vishal Desai (junior-finance), Indian Student Association president.

Others echoed the sentiment and said it seems USG representatives are rarely interested in minority issues after the campaigns.

"It saddens me that diversity has to be a sales pitch in order to get elected," said Takkeem Morgan (freshman-speech communication), vice president-elect of Black Caucus. "Diversity should be an issue that's always at the forefront of a leader's mind."

Lynn Thompson (senior-women's studies and comparative literature), co-director of Womyn's Concerns and political co-director of Lambda Student Alliance, said she was pleased USG had brought such issues to light.

"I'm glad that they're paying attention to diversity issues," Thompson said. "I think that even more attention needs to be paid though."

Many student leaders cited the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service as the main way that USG was involved with minority organizations and added that other USG-sponsored initiatives to bring groups together would be helpful.

Desai suggested a university-wide multicultural festival where student groups could make cultural presentations and have information booths. He said it would bring groups together and help end racism by educating students about cultures they may not understand.

"It hits a lot of the things that they need to do all in one, and it's not that hard to do," Desai said. "It could be really big if USG takes part in it."

Both Desai and Thompson said that no matter what is done, the size and power of USG could be used to support and unite diverse groups.

"I think we all recognize that our problems are similar," Thompson said. "USG could certainly play a role to build coalitions."

Jennifer Hernandez (senior-journalism and French), president of Penn State Association of Journalists for Diversity, said that USG's past Multicultural Affairs Forum was helpful, but that more USG support would make it easier to meet goals.

"We could probably succeed more efficiently with USG on our side instead of working on our own separate platforms," she said.

Hernandez also said that a number of students who have worked to foster diversity on campus and fight racism will graduate in May.

"I believe that a lot of that is going to fall through the cracks if someone doesn't uphold that for next year," she said.

Thompson agreed.

"My suggestion is to make diversity a year-round issue," she said. "Working on it once a year isn't going to solve it."

Hector Amaya (senior-sociology), Latino Caucus president, said that more USG involvement with minority groups would cause a snowball effect. "(Minorities) might be more willing to aspire to run for office," he said.

The leaders also had advice for the representatives that will be elected tomorrow.

"I would say to constantly, constantly, constantly keep an open mind," Morgan said. "Understand that racism is a virus that has affected everyone and that affects everyone."