Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Academic Assembly is asking for recommendations on how to improve diversity on campus, following a recent roundtable discussion.

Some assembly members suggested setting up an ad hoc diversity committee that could work with USG Multicultural Affairs Director Mark Bagley.

Assembly President Mark Levin said the recommendation for the committee is timely, referring to the recent discord concerning a letter to the editor printed in The Daily Collegian last Thursday about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and allies (LGBTA) community.

"I think it's a more efficient way to address these [diversity] issues than have the whole assembly address it all at once," he said. "Especially with what's been in the news these past few days -- there's obviously a lot that can be done."

The roundtable discussion, which took place Feb. 7, included representatives from Allies, Black Caucus, Hindu Students Council, Latino Caucus and a Council for Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) representative. Vice Provost for Educational Equity Terrell Jones and Center for Women Studies Director Peggy Lorah were also present at the discussion.

Attendees discussed ways to promote diversity in the academic realm.

CCSG Vice President Wendy Flynn said the assembly should look into setting up a diversity committee, which could consist of two members from Academic Assembly and two members from the Senate, and would work in collaboration with Bagley.

If Flynn's recommendation is put into action, it would not be the first attempt to create a diversity committee.

Assembly set up a committee to focus on diversity issues a few years ago after a number of black students received anonymous death threats in October 2000.

The diversity committee was eventually dismantled in September 2002 after about a year of inactivity, Levin said.

Bagley said the assembly could make a difference if it looked at the Penn State culture and the morals pervading it.

"I think every day is an opportunity," Bagley said.

"[What happened] this past week just shows there's more that can be done, and I hope that they can do it and engage themselves in it," he added.

The assembly also discussed other ways members can address diversity issues and expose more students and professors to the diversity concerns that exist on campus.

School of Information Sciences and Technology Faculty Sen. Rishi Das said the assembly should try to find ways to promote diversity in classes and teach to all communities.

"There's a lot of things that people from the majority of students take for granted, and students from the minorities don't know what's going on," he said.

College of Liberal Arts Rep. Nicole Belolan said there are many lectures focusing on diverse topics that could be advertised more to promote an understanding toward diversity for both students and professors.

Some representatives thought the assembly could better promote its mission, which could attract new members and as a result, create more diverse thinking.

Schreyer Honors College Rep. Matthew Frank said it would benefit the assembly if it encouraged more diverse students to take part. He said most people, regardless of background, do not know about the organization.

"We're just looking for people who are open-minded and want to be here," Das said.