Both the power of black athletes and the strained connection between black athletes and the general black community were discussed at an open forum of about 35 people last night.

Many athletes were in attendance, including football players Anthony Adams and Bryan Scott, and track team member Deshaya Williams.

The discussion only became tense after offensive lineman Damone Jones asked Assata Richards, a member of Black Caucus, how she wants black athletes to help the black community.

Richards said black football players have an elevated status, something not possessed by many black students at Penn State. This clout gives them extra power to promote the black community, she said.

"You have something so precious," Richards said.

Linebacker Deryck Toles said he did not see how black athletes had increased status at Penn State.

"You're defining the power that we don't know we have," Toles said. "We don't come here saying we run the school. We come here just to be us."

Jones also said he did not see athletes' roles as extraordinary.

"I don't see what athletes do as particularly special," he said. "I just see us as students who play sports -- I don't really see what power we have here."

Shayla Harvin, co-chair of Gye' Nyame, a committee within Black Caucus, said an example of athletes' clout can be found when an athlete is touted to attend a certain event, which increases the number of people who attend the event.

"They're all there to see the one person," Harvin said. "It brings out that huge crowd."

Besides discussing the power of black athletes, possible solutions to the lack of connection between black athletes and the black community were discussed.

A possible service project between black athletes and other black students will be organized, said Black Caucus President David Davis. An e-mail listserv and another forum discussion will also be planned. Another possibility suggested was a corkboard for events be placed in athletic facilities, giving athletes greater chances to see what is happening on campus.

Besides discussing possible solutions, participants also talked about feeling welcome at athletic events.

Richards said she does not want to go to football games after hearing racial slurs uttered from the crowd when protesters rushed the field during the 2001 Blue-White Game.

"I don't know if I would ever go to a football game," she said.

Jones responded to Richards' concerns, saying that not attending football games only perpetuates differences.

"That's all the more reason to ignore [people who used racial slurs]," Jones said.

Motivation to become more involved with the black community was also discussed.

"Some of us as athletes don't take the initiative [to become more active]," said Anthony Adams, defensive tackle. Adams is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a black fraternity.

Naana Badu, Black Caucus treasurer, encouraged athletes to come to more events and meetings that further goals of the black community because these activities might inspire athletes to become more involved.

"You never know what you may learn from it," Badu said.

Also discussed was the day-to-day communication between athletes and non-athletes.

Adams said he was not used to black people greeting each other on the street when he came to Penn State. He said in Detroit, the only time strangers greeted each other on the street was to fight.

"I know it took me a while to adjust to," he said.

Jones said he does not see animosity between athletes and non-athletes.

"It's not like I'm walking through the HUB and I say, 'There go those non-athletes,' " Jones said.