In an effort to improve the racial climate on campus, Black Caucus has called upon Undergraduate Student Government (USG) candidates for support.

At last night's Black Caucus general assembly meeting in 233 HUB, about 25 students listened to reports from two USG presidential candidates Mahmoud Ablan and Mark Taticchi on how they would act to help meet a list of demands presented by the group to Penn State administrators Feb. 25.

Ablan said a meeting held with administrators about the group's request for a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on campus is the first step in a difficult process to erect the monument. "The administration has said it cannot be done," he said. "But they also told me that we could not get classes canceled on MLK Day and we ended up making that happen."

Taticchi said he was not fully familiar with all of the group's demands, but he planned on looking into all sides of the issue before taking an official stance.

Taticchi added that he plans to do the necessary research this weekend and present his views at a question-and-answer session with Black Caucus members Monday night.

At the meeting, Black Caucus Vice President Gandarvaka Gray questioned the candidates on their previous involvement with racial issues and diverse student groups.

Ablan cited his involvement with the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity and his position as diversity affairs director of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments while at Penn State Schuylkill.

Taticchi pointed to his involvement with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied organizations and his work with events such as National Coming Out Day.

After the meeting, Black Caucus President Ed Smith said the group has not been receiving a positive reaction from administrators and Penn State President Graham Spanier.

"The president of the university should be willing to take a firm stance on issues such as the events of the past few weeks," Smith said. "We're not saying we won't meet with anyone else, but we feel President Spanier is an integral part of this process."

Smith added that while the group met with the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus last week, no meetings have taken place with Penn State administrators concerning the groups demands. He said many caucus members are beginning to shift their focus to their studies and other activities.

"A lot of us have lost a lot of time in the past few weeks trying to prepare these demands and work on promoting them, but we also have to remember that we are also students with other responsibilities as well," Smith said. "This process does not begin or end with this list, and we will keep working for as long as it takes to get our goals accomplished."