"And the question is, what are we going to do about it?" Datcher said after the brainstorming session.

Then the group went through the Ten Ways to Fight Hate, forcing students to think critically about how they could use each step in last year's sit in. First they discussed finding allies for their cause.

"Your effort to create social change is only going to be as strong as your ally base," Holladay said.

They discussed using the media, administrators and government for assistance, as well as how to present ideas and operate in the long-range. Datcher said that in thinking long-term, immediate goals should obviously be met first.

"If you're living in a house where the roof is leaking, the first thing you want to do is stop that water," he said.

Assata Richards (graduate-sociology), who was a spokesperson for the students at the sit-in last spring, said that is can be difficult to focus on goals sometimes. "It's hard for me to say 'let's sit down and talk calmly' when I'm afraid to go to class," she said.

Ivett Pruner (junior-finance and international business), who has worked to combat hatred towards Muslim students after the terrorist attacks, agreed. "I think its (hate) a problem on campus," she said, "but I think it's hard to deal with it when there's so much emotion involved."

Aside from its education initiatives, the SPLC files lawsuits against organized hate groups, forcing them to hand over their property to victims of their hatred. Recently the SPLC was able to topple the Aryan Nations white supremacist complex in Idaho, which is now used by firemen for practice, burning its buildings, said Datcher.

Holladay warned students that Aryan Nations is planning to recreate a complex in Ulysses, Pa., and said that Pennsylvania is in the top five states for organized hate groups.

Other SPLC-hosted events in Heritage Hall yesterday included a workshop on student leadership and a screening of the HBO documentary Hate.com, about the proliferation of hate groups on the internet.