Nearly four years ago, hundreds gathered in the HUB-Robeson Center for the Village, a 10-day sit-in that was staged after Black Caucus members received death threats. The goal of the participants was to make the Penn State administration aware of the need to promote cultural and racial tolerance at the school.

Those at the forefront of diversity negotiations today say that some progress was made, but there is still much business left unfinished. They say that racial intolerance still lingers and hate-related crimes are still happening on campus.

Such is the case with recent allegations made by Black Caucus President Ed Smith. He stated that a person allegedly shouted racial slurs at him from a room in Beaver Hall.

His allegations have led the Black Caucus and others to join hands and erupt into public discourse, making demands that the administration make immediate changes to foster diversity and take a stance against hate-related crime.

The situation seems eerily similar to that of the backdrop for the Village, the sit-in that most would argue produced little tangible change with regard to diversity and tolerance.

So before the shouting matches and demands continue, let's stop to think before we again go down a road that will most likely produce little change.

Let's take things one step at a time.

The police have not yet finished investigating the incident. They have not been able to release detailed information about the investigation. They can not even confirm that Smith was the person who was the target of the racial slurs.

It is a natural reaction to become angry and lash out at the administration while trying to make someone responsible for the acts.

But if that's the only way that Black Caucus knows how to respond to such hateful allegations, how do they expect others to know how to respond to the incident?

While it's not the natural thing to do, the best way to respond to the incident is to let the police investigation finish. If it turns out the allegations are true, then more steps can be taken. Operating on assumptions won't solve the problem.

If the case is as severe as it appears to be now, Black Caucus members have the right to make demands of the administration.

But they need to be pertinent ones.

If they want the curriculum to change to foster diversity they need to say that. If they think minority enrollment needs to increase to make the campus climate more welcoming then that should be mentioned as well.

Let's not waste time going down the same road again.