What began last year as a poster campaign to promote civility at Penn State is now taking on a life of its own, Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke said.

Being involved with USG's "We Are" campaign has been one of Foulke's favorite aspects of his job.

"I didn't recognize just how powerful a vehicle it could be to address the concerns of us students," he said. "It has grown exponentially."

Missi Lau, campaign director, said she thinks the campaign has bolstered a stronger public image this year, and she has plans to take "We Are" in new directions next semester.

Beginning in March, Lau is planning a month of awareness to highlight groups who otherwise go unnoticed in their service to the Penn State community. "Basically, we want to thank these organizations that are out doing this," she said. "Do you really hear about this stuff ever? You don't."

During the month-long effort, "We Are" will be organizing "buddy days" to partner interested students with others who are already volunteering in the community.

"We're hoping to get people more involved and show there is a smaller side to Penn State," she said.

Lau said she has been trying to attract public attention to the campaign by large efforts, spending less money than the campaign spent last year on advertising in newspapers, local buses and radio venues.

Efforts such as the barricade of used newspapers outside of the HUB-Robeson Center last month help to make students aware of the effects of their behavior, Lau said. USG members collected newspapers from classroom buildings for a week before piling them in front of the HUB.

"We're thinking about doing the newspaper thing again in the future, but making it bigger," Foulke said.

Lau also distributed about 500 "We Are" T-shirts to members of cooperating student groups to spread awareness about the campaign and its goals. She said seeing so many people wearing shirts on the same day spread the message around campus.

Campaign member Erika Latchford (sophomore-human development and family studies) said working for "We Are" has helped her cope with a tough semester in her personal life.

"It's definitely gotten me through a lot of things," she said. "It means so much to me personally because of what it's done for me, let alone helping others."

Foulke said Lau's efforts have been effective in getting the campaign's name out to the public.

"It's so well known on campus that even Phroth is making fun of it," he said. "So we must be doing something right."