A new program beginning today in the HUB-Robeson Center will allow students, faculty and staff to offer their perspective on controversial issues in an informal public forum.

Perspective Mic will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays through the end of the semester on the first floor lounge of the HUB-Robeson Center.

Chester Asher (junior-political science), program coordinator, said that the student union building is a central location to the university and is a place where students freely discuss issues. There are a lot of differences on this campus but "not enough conclusions between the different peoples," Asher said.

Some issues that might be discussed include racism, sexism, homophobia and the greek system. Students will vote on the issue each week and can suggest ideas for discussion.

"Hopefully more dialogue will lead to more understanding of different perspectives throughout this campus," Asher said.

Erik Malewski, diversity programming assistant at the Multicultural Resource Center, helped Asher coordinate the program. Malewski thinks this will be a "strong extra-curricular activity that will encourage opportunity for all students to participate."

Michael Hannon, assistant director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, has been creating and distributing fliers for Perspective Mic. He said the program is open to all students.

"This program provides a forum for people with or without organizational affiliation to discuss openly issues that are important to them," he said.

Each person will be able to speak about the chosen topic for three minutes.

Malewski said that many of the issues could lead to heated debate, so it will be important to have a facilitator there, a position that will be filled by Audrey Elion (graduate-counseling psychology). She will keep track of time, help make easy transitions and maintain order.

"If someone starts to get irate about an issue, I will take the mic and summarize their viewpoints and leave it open for others to respond," she said.

This will not be Elion's first experience moderating potentially heated debates. She facilitates six classes that meet twice a week to talk openly on issues that may be personal to them. She said she thinks Perspective Mic offers a safe environment and will increase awareness and understanding of issues on campus.

The goal for Perspective Mic is to bring people closer together, Asher said. He said he "hopes by understanding and communicating with one another it will help bring a more cohesive campus."