"The village" in the HUB has taken the adage "safety in numbers" to heart.

Students and community members gathered for a town meeting last night to express their concern about their safety on and off campus, as well as during next weekend's graduation ceremonies.

The NAACP and the Penn State Black Caucus sponsored the meeting. Taj. A Brown, a member of the NAACP Board of Directors, encouraged the audience members to speak their minds as Black Caucus members recorded the comments.

"Every student's concern is legitimate to us," Brown said.

One issue that repeatedly came up was that of security at graduation. The threatening letter sent to Black Caucus President Lakeisha Wolf on April 20 contained a bomb threat for graduation.

As it stands, the administration plans to sweep the buildings before each graduation ceremony, but those at the meeting said they want more.

"I think there needs to be metal detectors," said Jeffrey Johnson, NAACP National Youth Director.

He said the Black Caucus and students should pressure the university to implement these stricter safety measures.

Vice President for Student Affairs William Asbury said after the meeting that the university is doing everything it can to ensure students' safety, but it may be able to do more. He added that a plan for security at graduation will be decided by the Penn State Police Services and the State College Police Department.

Audience members also spoke about the meaning of the village.

Kris Ankarlo identified himself as the president of the Commonwealth Council of Student Governments but said he was first a member of the village. He encouraged those in attendance to take the atmosphere of the village home with them.

"Spread the knowledge," he said. "Go back and spread that to where you're from."

Black Caucus member Chenits Pettigrew (senior-media studies) said recent events have compromised the security of the villagers.

"Originally our intent was to come in protest, now it is a safety issue," he said.

Johnson said these issues can no longer be ignored on this campus.

"This university must stand up and say we as Penn State University will not tolerate intimidation," he said.

Johnson said people who commit such acts should not only be removed from the university, but also prosecuted for hate crimes.

Joseph Dawkins, former president of Black Caucus, said he is living in the HUB because he cannot go home since the protestors' names and addresses were made public last week.

"So my life has also been compromised," he said.

Dawkins said the university should take the letter writer more seriously.

"This person may not be making threats, they may be making promises," he said. "I hope the university would not compromise safety if a body is linked to the letter."

Black Caucus Vice President Sharleen Morris questioned the university's response to the latest threatening letters.

"How can we know that our lives are at stake if the administration does not take it upon themselves to warn us?" she asked.

Ryan Banks, Black Caucus treasurer, said after the meeting that accountability is important to the protesters but they have been told their proposal may not be acceptable.

"We have been made aware that 'two percent' may not be possible," she said. "We are working on an alternative plan of accountability."

She said the issue of safety is first on the villagers' minds, however.

"Somebody's life is way more important than two percent of anything," Banks said.

As the meeting ended, Pettigrew told the protesters to press on with their cause.

"We can't stop here. This is a movement, so let's keep it moving," he said.