Cars were forced to stop, and people turned to stare as about 50 people made their way across campus last night. Hand in hand, the group marched silently from the Nittany Lion Shrine to the Pollock Commons quad.

The Unity March, as it was called, was a part of Unity Week, designed to stress the importance of unifying students at Penn State.

"The word unity should be like 911," said Shannon Ingram (senior-human development and family studies). "It should elicit that kind of response."

The evening started at the Lion Shrine. Sporting white ribbons and wearing Unity Week T-shirts, participants joined hands and encircled the shrine, praying before they began to walk.

For 25 minutes, the group wordlessly marched across campus.

"Some people don't know why (we're marching), but they need to find out," Ingram said.

After the march, participants gathered in a circle on the Pollock quad and lit white candles of unity. Several spoke out, explaining why they had come, and what impact they thought that the evening would have.

"Unity is needed everywhere, especially on a campus like this," said Melissa Rios (senior-agricultural business management). She went on to comment that even though participant numbers were not as high as event organizers would have liked, she still felt that they had made a difference of campus.

"The crowd stopped and wondered," Rios said. "That makes a difference."

A common theme of the evening's discussion was pride.

"Be proud of how you feel," said Donna King, a community activist. "It's in silence that people suffer." She quoted the song "Walk on By" to illustrate the fact that few people had stopped to inquire as to what was going on.

Recent problems at Penn State, both racially and nonracially motivated, were a much-discussed topic.

"The things going on at this university are wrong, they're criminal," said Queen Nworisara (junior-international politics). "Every single day, people are suffering."

Other students commented on the lack of administration involvement in the event.

"This is a big issue," said Kacy Gambles (junior-finance and international business). "Why isn't the administration here?"

Students said that despite a lower turnout, the event was a triumph.

"Anything that brings different people together is a success," Nworisara said. "The presence of people. . .it makes a statement. A statement of solidarity against hate."

Others agreed.

"It needed to be done. . .it was not done in vain," Gambles said. She spoke of the "trickling effect," saying that if even one person was influenced, he or she would have an opportunity to tell even more people.

Many students said that they were glad that they had been able to come out and provide what help and support that they could.

"Things like this are very important," said Jennifer Dillon (senior-theatre). "I knew I was coming (when I heard about it). And that's all I can do. Be one more light."